A man on trial over a fatal knife rampage at a care home for the mentally disabled near Tokyo in 2016 reappeared in court on Friday, two days after he was removed from the courtroom for trying to bite off his finger.
The point at issue is the presence or absence of criminal liability at the time of the case. The defense argued, “He was mentally ill or mentally depressed due to cannabis.” The prosecutor’s view is that he was fully accountable as he had “a unique way of thinking, not a pathological delusion within normal psychology.”
As many as 1,944 people entered the lottery for the 26 gallery seats available at Yokohama District Court to observers for the trial of Satoshi Uematsu, 29, accused in the attack in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo.
A man accused of killing 19 residents and injuring dozens more in a knife rampage at a care home for mentally disabled people near Tokyo in 2016 pleaded not guilty Wednesday in court, insisting he was mentally incompetent.
“Miho lived so hard. I want to leave that testimony. I want you to remember Miho’s name.”
Satoshi Uematsu, 29, admitted to the attack during the first court hearing at the Yokohama District Court, but his defense team argued he should not be held responsible as he was either mentally incompetent or had a diminished capacity.
Since many of the victim’s family chose not to disclose their names – as is their right to do so – at the trial the victims will be anonymous and referred to as ‘A’, ‘B’ and so on, with one notable exception: Kazuya Ono, aged 46, who was stabbed in the stomach will apparently be mentioned by name.
Satoshi Uematsu, 29, said that he will admit the charges at the trial. “It’s depressing,” he said. “It’s like going there to get insulted.”
Uematsu wanted to tell the Japanese Prime Minister about his plan to “kill many disabled people”. His name and address were written down, as is address of the Tsukui Yamayuri Garden, where he worked.
A photograph from a security camera of a person believed to be defendant in the ‘Sagamihara massacre’ just before the incident at the Sagamihara care home on July 26th 2016. The incident occurred early 2am.
Barrier Free Japan