You Are Here
britthammond

Ex-care worker who killed 19 people with disabilities sentenced to death

News

A man who killed 19 and injured another 26 at a care home after writing ‘disabled people only create unhappiness’ has been given the death penalty.

Satoshi Uematsu’s massacre at Tsukui Yamayuri-en residential home, in Sagamihara, west of Tokyo, has been called Japan’s worst mass killing since the end of World War Two and has shook the country to the core.

Uematsu, now 30, repeatedly said during the investigation and trial he had no regrets and was trying to help the world by killing people who he thought were burdens. He told medical staff and officials he was influenced by the ideas of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, whose killings of people with disabilities were seen as intended to improve the perceived master race.

The Yokohama District Court sentenced him to death by hanging on Monday. Executions are carried out in high secrecy in Japan, where prisoners are understood to not be informed of the date of their death until the morning.

Uematsu handed himself into police while still armed with bloodied knives on July 26, 2016, after carrying out the attack at the care home where he had worked.

The killer claimed the lives of nine men and 10 women, aged 18 to 70, and injured 24 others who were living at the facility. Two care workers were also wounded.

Since his arrest he has told interviewers he ‘had to do it for the sake of society’ and said people with mental disabilities ‘have no heart’ and there was ‘no point in living’ for them.

During a dramatic trial earlier this year, Uematsu admitted to the killings but his defence pleaded not guilty on the basis that he had been suffering with mental illness and was under the influence of marijuana at the time. However, there were no traces of the drug found in his blood.

Prosecutors insisted he was mentally competent to carry out the attack, which was ‘inhumane’ and left ‘no room for leniency.’

Chief Judge Kiyoshi Aonuma called the crimes ‘extremely heinous and caused damage that is incomparable to any other case’.

‘The attacks were premeditated, and the defendant was acting consistently to achieve his goal,’ Aonuma said, according to NHK public television.

It later emerged that the killings mirrored a plot described in a letter Uematsu had given to Japanese parliament, saying he would kill 470 people with severe disabilities if authorised.

‘I want Japan to be a country where the disabled can be euthanised,’ he said in the letter, which was delivered just months before the attack.

He quit his job at the Yamayuri-en facility after being confronted about the letter and was committed to psychiatric care, but was released within two weeks, officials have said.

Advocacy gro

Most of the families of the victims have not revealed their identities, reportedly because they did not want to say they had a relative with disabilities, many of which are fearful of similar attacks or discrimination.

However, the mother of a 19-year-old woman who was killed in the attack revealed her name was Miho ahead of the court hearing.

‘Even the most extreme penalty is light for you,’ the mother said according to public broadcaster NHK. ‘I will never forgive you.’

She added: ‘Please bring back my most precious daughter… you’re still alive. It’s not fair. It’s wrong. I demand capital punishment’.

278 thoughts on “Ex-care worker who killed 19 people with disabilities sentenced to death”

  12. The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  22. A powerful share, I simply given this onto a colleague who was doing slightly analysis on this. And he actually purchased me breakfast as a result of I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I really feel strongly about it and love studying more on this topic. If potential, as you develop into expertise, would you thoughts updating your weblog with extra particulars? It is extremely helpful for me. Large thumb up for this weblog submit!

  38. hi!,I really like your writing so so much! share we be in contact extra about your post on AOL? I need an expert in this area to solve my problem. May be that is you! Having a look forward to peer you.

  42. It is really a nice and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.

  44. Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same outcome.

  46. Link exchange is nothing else except it is simply placing the other person’s website link on your page at proper place and other person will also do same for you.|

  87. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve truly loved surfing around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing on your feed and I am hoping you write once more soon!

  155. Hello there, You have done an incredible job. I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I am confident they’ll be benefited from this website.|

  167. ссылка на гидру tor представляет из себя маркет, который разработан для дилеров незаконных товаров и услуг. Такую же услугу невозможно купить в простом магазине, поскольку это противозаконно.

  214. I needed to put you the very little remark to be able to thank you the moment again over the remarkable tactics you have provided on this page. This has been simply surprisingly open-handed with you to offer unhampered precisely what most of us would’ve offered for sale for an ebook to help make some money on their own, particularly seeing that you might have tried it in case you desired. Those suggestions in addition worked to become good way to realize that some people have the identical keenness really like my personal own to realize much more when it comes to this matter. I believe there are several more pleasant sessions up front for people who scan your site.

  218. A lot of thanks for all your efforts on this site. Gloria loves engaging in investigation and it’s easy to understand why. Almost all know all concerning the dynamic means you deliver helpful items on the web blog and as well encourage contribution from other people on that concern plus our daughter is actually discovering a lot. Have fun with the remaining portion of the new year. You’re the one conducting a good job.

  220. I intended to compose you a bit of note in order to give many thanks again considering the beautiful basics you’ve contributed above. It’s extremely generous of people like you giving easily all a few people could have advertised as an e-book in making some bucks for their own end, certainly considering that you could have done it if you considered necessary. The basics additionally acted as a easy way to be aware that many people have a similar desire just as mine to figure out a great deal more concerning this condition. Certainly there are a lot more enjoyable instances ahead for folks who check out your blog.

  222. I’m also commenting to let you be aware of of the cool discovery my child encountered checking your blog. She came to understand a wide variety of details, most notably how it is like to have a marvelous coaching heart to get folks easily fully grasp a variety of complicated matters. You actually did more than my desires. I appreciate you for delivering such good, dependable, edifying and also cool guidance on that topic to Evelyn.

  223. I am glad for writing to make you know what a magnificent encounter my wife’s girl had studying your web site. She mastered several pieces, which include what it’s like to possess an awesome helping nature to let other individuals very easily know precisely some multifaceted subject matter. You truly exceeded people’s expectations. Thank you for presenting these powerful, trusted, informative and in addition fun tips about this topic to Kate.

  225. I simply wished to thank you very much yet again. I do not know what I would have undertaken without those tips shown by you relating to this theme. Previously it was the terrifying setting in my view, nevertheless understanding your well-written technique you treated the issue took me to weep with joy. Now i’m thankful for your support as well as trust you recognize what an amazing job you were undertaking training the others via your website. Most probably you haven’t met any of us.

  226. I’m just commenting to let you be aware of of the exceptional discovery my cousin’s daughter enjoyed going through your blog. She discovered lots of issues, most notably how it is like to have a very effective giving heart to have many more effortlessly fully understand certain extremely tough matters. You really did more than my desires. Many thanks for displaying the helpful, healthy, educational and also easy thoughts on the topic to Gloria.

  231. I am glad for writing to make you know what a nice encounter my wife’s girl had studying your web site. She mastered several pieces, which include what it’s like to possess an awesome helping nature to let other individuals very easily know precisely some problematic subject matter. You truly exceeded people’s expectations. Thank you for presenting these practical, trusted, informative and in addition fun tips about this topic to Kate.

  233. I’m also commenting to let you be aware of of the excellent discovery my cousin’s child enjoyed checking your blog. She came to find a good number of details, including how it is like to have a great coaching character to get a number of people clearly completely grasp a number of advanced issues. You actually did more than her desires. I appreciate you for churning out such effective, dependable, edifying and cool guidance on that topic to Emily.

  235. Thank you for each of your hard work on this web page. My aunt really likes going through investigations and it’s really obvious why. Most of us learn all of the lively method you offer precious suggestions through this web site and even increase participation from some other people on the matter so our favorite girl is now learning a lot of things. Take advantage of the rest of the year. You are always doing a really great job.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.