Death Penalty Sought for Triple Murder in Saitama Pref.

Saitama, Feb. 26 (Jiji Press)–Public prosecutors on Thursday demanded the death penalty for a 43-year-old man charged with killing three members of a family at their house in the city of Hanno, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, in December 2022. In seeking the punishment for the defendant, Jun Saito, during the day’s hearing for his lay judge trial at Saitama District Court, the prosecution said that the crime was very malicious and brutal. On the degree of Saito’s ability to take criminal responsibility, which is the main focus in the trial, the prosecution said that his mental illness had only a limited impact on his actions, adding that the crime was premeditated. The prosecution said that Saito had recognized his acts as illegal and had acted rationally to achieve his purpose. His actions were fueled by his arrest for previous run-ins with the victims and by his anti-Western sentiment, the prosecution said. Meanwhile, the defendant side said that Saito was controlled by a strong delusion that he was being attacked by the victims, adding that his mental illness had a strong influence on his actions. According to the indictment, Saito killed U.S. national William Ross Bishop Jr., 69, his wife and their eldest daughter by striking their heads and necks with an ax at their house in Hanno and set it alight. The incident took place around 7 a.m. Dec. 25, 2022. “I want him to disappear from the world, so he should be put to death,” the couple’s second daughter said in tears during Thursday’s hearing. In previous court hearings, Saito argued that he was in bed around the time of the incident. The defense for Saito has said he should be found innocent, citing his diminished capacity. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]