Death sentence for Japanese man who killed 19 at home for disabled

Satoshi Uematsu, a former employee, went on a stabbing spree at the care home in 2016

Satoshi Uematsu, pictured in 2016, was sentenced to death on March 16 over the murders of 19 residents of a care home for disabled people. AFP

A Japanese court on Monday sentenced a man to death for the 2016 murder of 19 disabled people at a care home, one of the country’s worst mass killings.

Satoshi Uematsu, 30, a former employee at the home, never disputed his involvement in the stabbing rampage, but his lawyers entered a plea of not guilty, arguing he was suffering a “mental disorder” linked to his use of marijuana.

Chief judge Kiyoshi Aonuma dismissed that argument and ruled Uematsu deserved no leniency over the horrifying attack, which also left 26 people wounded.

“The lives of 19 people were taken away. This is profoundly grave,” he told the court.

Uematsu planned the murders and had “an extreme intention to kill”, the judge said.

Prosecutors sought the death penalty, which in Japan is carried out by hanging, arguing Uematsu was capable of taking responsibility for what they said was an “inhumane” attack at the Tsukui Yamayuri-en centre in Sagamihara town, near Tokyo.

Uematsu’s behaviour in court, including apparently trying to put something in his mouth, disrupted proceedings at the first hearing in January, with the judge calling a recess before resuming without him.

But he was impassive on Monday as the verdict was announced, looking straight ahead at the judge during the sentencing.

He wore a black suit with his hair in a ponytail down to his waist, and was flanked by six uniformed court officers wearing surgical masks.

Uematsu, who faced six charges including murder, reportedly said before the trial that he would not appeal any verdict, though he argued he did not deserve the death penalty.

He has reportedly said he wanted to eradicate disabled people.

He turned himself in to police after the assault, carrying bloodied knives, and it later emerged he had left his job at the home only months earlier and been detained in hospital after telling colleagues he intended to kill disabled people at the centre.

But he was discharged after only 12 days when a doctor decided he was not a threat. He had also written a letter outlining plans to attack the home, stating “disabled people only create unhappiness”.

Among the few victims to be identified publicly was a woman aged 19, Miho, whose mother had said in court that Uematsu “didn’t need a future”.

“I hate you so much. I want to rip you apart. Even the most extreme penalty is light for you. I will never forgive you,” she said before the verdict, public broadcaster NHK reported.

“Please bring back my most precious daughter ... You’re still alive. It’s not fair. It’s wrong,” she said.

“I demand capital punishment.”

The trial has been closely watched, and a court spokesman said 1,603 people queued for 10 seats available for the verdict.

The number of spots was reduced because of rules requiring spectators sit apart to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Uematsu has shown no remorse for the attack, telling Japan's Mainichi Shimbun daily that people with intellectual disabilities "have no heart", and for them "there's no point in living".

“I had to do it for the sake of society,” he said.

Uematsu’s beliefs shocked Japan, with experts and activists raising questions about whether others might hold similar views.

Japan has been making efforts to increase accessibility – particularly in Tokyo ahead of this year’s Paralympic Games – and activists hailed last year’s election of two disabled politicians.

But some critics feel the country still falls short of integrating people with disabilities.