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A 63-year-old man was found dead in a home in Kameoka City on Saturday, after firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze there the night before more than 2 hours after it started. DNA analysis carried out Sunday confirmed the man to be Masao Sakai, a former member of the Kyoto police force, police said Monday.
Police said Sakai entered the home of his ex-wife's older sister just after 7.30 p.m. Friday and argued with them over financial matters. He had a tank on his back filled with oil, which he then sprayed in rooms and along the corridor of the two-storey wooden home before setting it alight.
The ensuing fire burned some 170 square meters in total before firefighters could put it out. Police are investigating the case as one of arson and attempted murder.
Masahito Nishimura, 59, and his wife Toyoko, 59, were severely burnt in the fire but are in a stable condition in hospital. Their eldest son's wife, 32, an d two grandchildren aged 9 and 4 were in the bath at the time but were able to escape the fire without injury. Their son was working Friday evening, police said.
© News reports
13 Comments
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SebastianFlyte
Keystone Cops never cease to surprise.
Gurukun
Sad story. Even though he probably wanted to kill everybody, I'm glad nobody else died in the fire. Goes to show you that they keystones cant even do that right.
borscht
It's a pity the Nishimuras couldn't get out while he was spraying their house. Severely burned is not going to heal well. Glad the kids got out. It's a pity, too, that Nishimura and Sakai couldn't work out their financial problems.
dolphingirl
Yikes. Thank goodness the kids are alright. Praying for a speedy recovery for the couple.
Rascal94
I tell you Kyoto is full of weirdos. I've been there. I hate the "no first timer rule" they have at some restaurants in Kyoto.
kokorocloud
I'm glad no one else was killed... crazy. But now they're probably out of a home, aren't they. I agree, it's too bad they couldn't work out whatever it was that made him go to such an extreme.
Madara
There's a lot of ways on how to deal with financial problems, so sad that he resorted violence. Lucky for the kids they got out safe and unhurt.
HeyLars
People who want to die should be enouraged to do so alone. Facilities should be made so that if they want to go on a rampage first, okay. Fortunately, this time, there were no casualties from one man's wreckless suicide and murder attempt.
Badge213
What justifies this? He was a retired police officer, do you have any information on his career as a public servant that says otherwise he was a keystone cop? I'd like to know.
Like I always say ANY article that has anything remotely to do with the police people just jump the gun because it's fun to say "keystone cops" without any justification. There are times where the police do stupid things and justify being called it, other times there isn't but people still do it.
Gurukun
History. Dont want to get into detail, cuz its off topic.
Badge213
Yes it is offtopic because simply saying keystone cops has nothing to do with the guy, he was a retired police officer and there was no police incompetence here.
goddog
He grew up in Saitama from what I read, so that must be where he learned his trade.
Gurukun
Sounds pretty "retired" Keystonish to me.