Japanese lawyers demand execution of man who murdered people for 'causing unhappiness'

Japanese lawyers have called for the execution of a man who had allegedly killed disabled care home residents, international media reported. Satoshi Uematsu, former care home worker killed 19 people killed and injured 26 others in a stabbing rampage in 2016. 

Read: Japan Cancels Emperor's Birthday Celebrations As Coronavirus Fear Looms Large

'Mentally unstable'

According to reports, the 30-year-old accepted his involvement in 2016 mass murder at his first appearance at court in Yokohama last month. Uemesu had previously said that he wanted to eradicate all people with disabilities in the horrifying attack at the Tsukui Yamayuri-en centre in the town of Sagamihara, southwest of Tokyo. Added to that he claimed that people with disabilities "only create unhappiness". However, his lawyers pleaded of not guilty claiming that their client has a “mental disorder” linked to his repeated use of marijuana. 

Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: 99 More Cases Confirmed On Japan Cruise Ship

Recently, prosecutors have argued that Uemasu was capable of taking responsibility of the attack adding that the rampage was “inhumane" and left "no room for leniency." According to local court, hearings are to conclude later this week and the verdict is expected to come on March 16.

Read: First Plane Carrying Americans From Japan Virus Ship Lands In US

Read: 14 Positive Coronavirus Cases Among Americans Evacuated From Cruise Ship In Japan

In a similar gruesome incident, a 14-year-old was arrested and charged with fatally stabbing a New York University student during a park robbery on December 11. The accused boy, Rashaun Weaver, would be tried as an adult on counts of second-degree murder and robbery, said the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr.  “We are confident that we have the person in custody who stabbed her, and that person will face justice in a court of law,” New York police chief Dermot Shea said during a news conference. 

The case is also being closely watched for its racial dynamic as Tessa Majors, 18, was a white freshman at Barnard College, which is in the predominantly black neighbourhood, Harlem, in Manhattan's northwest. Majors was found bleeding outside the Morningside Park due to multiple stabbing in the chest and died at a hospital.

(Promo image: Representative image)