Japanese prosecutors seek life in Briton's death

Oops... WITH parole... WTF??!!

Verdict is in....

Life without parole!

today is the day!!

tomorrow...

verdict in two days....

@ Michael Fox

Even so, that means he still has a chance to be a "free" man some day - which he should not.

And why on earth do they make a man write a hansei-sho if he is truly innocent?

Some notes: --Life imprisonment in Japan averages 26.5 years. Ten years ago it was 21.5 years, and if the trend of penal populism continues, Ichihashi may be in for 30 years.

--Life Imprisonment can be much longer, an innocent man, Fumi Hoshino, has been in for over 30 years, and will not be released because he refuses to write a hansei-sho.

--Michael H. Fox --Japan Innocence and Death Penalty Research Center.

Tahoochi. You are right and wrong. He will have to serve 25 years as a life sentence, but he can be paroled after that. But he will have "ONE SENTENCE", all of crimes will be under that one sentence, of 25 years at least. After that he is eligible for parole, depending upon good behavior and if he has shown enough repentance.

Kersey23: Where are you getting your info from????

According to wiki, minimum to serve before eligibility for requesting parole for a life sentence in Japan is "10 years or never" (and there is no maximum). Besides, you're forgetting some very important pieces of information...... in addition to murder, there's rape and evading the cops for 2 years (which means there was no remorse or "hansei").

I read an article with what he says happened ( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2013013/Lindsay-Hawkers-killer-throws-revolted-parents-sickening-pantomime.html ) and it was terrible. I think he deserves to hang, since the only remorse he's shown has been for himself and she BEGGED him to let her go.

Wait a minute, folks! "Life" sentence in Japan is exactly 25 years. No more, no less. Unless you are convicted of multiple crimes, that is the only way that one can do more than 25 years. He will be out in 25 years if he gets a "Life" sentence. In Japan, in murder cases like these, it is either LIfe (25 years in prison) or the death penalty. You can be sentenced to more than that for multiple crimes. Also, death penalty are not given to people who kill only one person. Only if that person kills more than one person. So, he will be back on the streets in 25 years.

The common consensus among many Japanese about this case is this... He should be executed for the crime commited...Which totally surprises me as Japanese aren't usually vocal about this...

This is because he doubly embarassed Japan.

First, for being the psycho homocidal murdering rapist that he is.

And second, for showing the ineptitude of the j-satsu.

It was a national shame.

Iife in a Japanese prison worl renown for it human rights abuses or hanged by the neck until dead (optional 2 more times). Which one to you sounds like a more fitting punishment? Living hell or to escape from hell into the next life? And to those of you who thing that he would have been given a light sentence.. do you think you may be being a little.. shall we say.. BITTER?

He enticed he to his apartment then raped her and kills her to keep her quiet ??? this to me is premeditated.

Then there is this bath tub, where did he get all the sand and for what did he intend to do with it? start a farm on the balcony? Premeditated I think.

The Death sentence is appropriate.

Life imprisonment is fine if he never gets out. How old would Ichihashi would have to be before he was not a threat? In some few cases the death penalty has it's place. Instances where a re-offender would be a serious assault on another victim is the only justification. Might just fit in this case.

Although the law stipulates at least 10 years, "lifers" have been in jail for at least 20 years here in Japan. Some for 50 years. He'll be out when he's still able to make kids of his own and that's not a pleasant idea for some...

You cannot be serious... 5 years for rape, murder and on the run for 2 years??

That would be if they don't find him guilty of murder. More obvious cases have come to such a result. Its just that the world is watching this time.

He should hang. That is the only sentence that is permanent. Anything else means that he will be out in freedom some day eventually. And he should not be.

Let me understand what the prosecuter in Japan is saying to the world: "you can get away with premediated murder in Japan". Your life is spared and we will feed you and take care of you for the rest of your life. What a message. This will not happen in U.S. or China, the #1 and #2 GDP country in the world. I guess when your #3, maybe it means the third world law.

I have a feeling that even if he is given a life sentence that someday his scum bag laywer(s) will get him released. Or maybe like some others have said he will not even be given a life sentence...guess we'll see...hope you follow up JT.

Prosecutors have argued that he did intend to kill her, and presented evidence they say suggests he had prepared for that scenario.

He's lucky he is not on trial in the U.S., as this sounds like the definition of "premeditated". But, as others have pointed out, Japan has different criteria with regards capital punishment, so let's just hope he dopes get the life sentence.

Life imprisonment is fine if he never gets out. How old would Ichihashi would have to be before he was not a threat? In some few cases the death penalty has it's place. Instances where a re-offender would be a serious assault on another victim is the only justification. Might just fit in this case.

Heda Madness - what you say is true. What I'm sure the Hawkers and their many supporters may find disappointing (if indeed they wish for this rapist/killer to be hung) is that the prosecutors DID call for the death penalty in the Chiba murder case. This crime also did not tick any of those 3 boxes you mentioned. The poor victim was Japanese though, not foreign...

I think this is good. The family wanted the death penalty but deep emotions can cloud an issue like this. An eye for an eye will not bring closure, satisfaction or a sense of justice to Mr and Mrs Hawker. I hope they can look deeply into this. Life imprisonment is the right decision.

The death penalty in Japan is USUALLY requested when a defendant has:

Committed multiple murders

OR

Used a gun to commit murder

OR

Is a repeat murderer

Whether you like it or not, agree with it or not they were never going to get the death penalty for him.

@RAINkyutech

So you're saying crazy people (ie mentally ill, through no fault of their own) should be hanged? Lovely....

Ichihashi is crazy. I wish the judge makes him hang for his vile crime .

A fair sentence request by prosecutors. Justice would be served.

RR

Fry, Predator

I wish the judge makes him hang for his vile crime . Get rid of the wicked scum.

I'm not too cool with taxpayers footing all his bills in the Government hotel for the rest of his life. It's just too good for him.

come on ... he is not going to get the death penalty. He is not even going to get life. He's gonna get a couple of years at most, I would be personally VERY surprised if he gets anything more than 5 or 10.

NOT saying thats what I personally think he SHOULD get, but thats what he will.

Chewitup - she was NEVER gonna be just another foreigner. I know that her being beautiful and British does come into it, but what is far more interesting is comparing her deaths to other foreigners deaths in Japan. And by foreign I mean chinese, or korean women, (not Lucy Blackman). The guys who kill these poor girls get a slap on the wrist at best.

PS of course we still don't know what the court will rule, so let's wait and see...

If another bloke gets sentenced to death for the murder of a poor Japanese girl of the same age as Ms. Hawker (the Chiba case) - why can they not demand the death penalty here? Multiple crimes were committed in both cases - arson and robbery in the Chiba one, brutal rape and assault in the other - however there was one victim in each case. Death penalty would have been the most fair outcome, in my mind.

They should seek Death for the Briton's life.

I have dug a mole out with a box cutter before, it only really hurts when you pull off the skin you just cut around...

He should hang!

"In his book “Until the Arrest,” Ichihashi described scissoring off his lower lip and digging two moles out of his cheek with a box cutter. He said he wore surgical masks to cover his face and lived in constant fear of being identified."

So much for being remorseful and sorry, eh? Especially when he claims not to remember strangling her. This is ridiculous -- the guy is out and out lying about what it is he did, and he needs to be locked up FOR LIFE. Give him 20 years for the murder, followed by a 5 year sentence for rape, followed by a 15 year sentence for evading capture (despite claims of 'being sorry'). Top it off with another 10 years because the guy's a liar and scum. By 'life', give him 'life', not some paltry 20 year stint with 7 or more years off for good behaviour.

@FireyR - better add the law for celebrities and the law for politicians to your list...

The supreme court of Japan, in imposing the death penalty, ruled that the death penalty may be imposed "inevitably" in consideration of the degree of criminal liability and balance of justice based on a nine-point set of criteria. Though technically not a precedent, this guideline has been followed by all subsequent capital cases in Japan. The nine criteria are as follows:

Degree of viciousness

Motive

How the crime was committed; especially the manner in which the victim was killed.

Outcome of the crime; especially the number of victims.

Sentiments of the bereaved family members.

Impact of the crime on Japanese society.

Defendant's age (in Japan, someone is a minor until the age of 20).

Defendant's previous criminal record.

Degree of remorse shown by the defendant.

You cannot be serious... 5 years for rape, murder and on the run for 2 years??

the prosecutor said the victim is only one, that is why he cannot demand the death penalty.

I did not know that before Ichihashi was jailed for stealing a wallet and injuring the man who saw him do that pushing him on the stairs. It shows his evil nature.

on the run for over two years - and only life??????? to the hawker family - keep hounding.

@Yubaru too early to say 'appropriate' or it might be appropriate at lower court level...i suspect final verdict will be much too lenient (agaist my wish).

I look forward to July 21st for an appropriate sentence, and justice.

The common consensus among many Japanese about this case is this... He should be executed for the crime commited...Which totally surprises me as Japanese aren't usually vocal about this... The judge can still sentence him to death if he wishes.

they might have demanded 5 at most and the judge hand down that with 2 years suspended

You cannot be serious... 5 years for rape, murder and on the run for 2 years??

Appropriate sentence I believe, let him rot for the rest of his natural life in prison. Justice would be served.

Let us remember that the high profile nature of this case will surely affect the outcome. If not for that, Hawker would have been just another foreigner and treatment of Ichihashi would have been comparitively light. Good on the Hawker family for keeping on top of this. Truly, it is their work that made the prosecutors to demand muki choeki. Otherwise, they might have demanded 5 at most and the judge hand down that with 2 years suspended or some crap.

Embarrassment made this possible, and it was not Ichihashi that embarrassed Japan. It was the bad press.