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A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to death for killing his wife and five children at their home in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, in 2017.
The ruling in the lay judge trial at the Mito District Court was handed down Wednesday against Hirobumi Komatsu, who had told the court during his trial last month that he has no memory of the crime, Fuji TV reported. His defense team argued that he had suffered permanent amnesia since his detention.
Komatsu was initially arrested on suspicion of killing one of his children on Oct 6, 2017. He was ordered to undergo three months of psychiatric tests to determine if he could be held criminally responsible for his actions.
The court heard that test results showed Komatsu knew what he was doing and he was indicted on Saturday.
After his arrest, Komatsu told police he had killed his wife because she wanted a divorce. He said he then set a room in the apartment on fire with a cigarette lighter after sprinkling gasoline. The fire was put out about an hour later, having burned an area of about 7 square meters.
Komatsu's then 33-year-old wife Megumi and their five children -- 11-year-old daughter Mua, 7-year-old son Takara, 5-year-old son Ryua, and 3-year-old twin boys Rairu and Reiru -- were found dead in the room.
Autopsies showed the six died from loss of blood caused by stab wounds and smoke inhalation following the fire.
© Japan Today
16 Comments
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Hiro
Knew this would be the outcome when this news was reported a few weeks ago. To be honest the guy should feel relieve he get to leave this world. How can anyone continue to live on anyway after killing 5 of his own children and his wife. A sin like this will never allow him to go back to society and living the rest of his life in prison is just a waste of tax money.
SauloJpn
Ok, I am done with crime articles for today. I can not imagine what kind of human being capable of inflicting that much pain to anyone, let alone to the people closest to him.
Do the hustle
I do not favor the death penalty. To me, living out the rest of his days in a small cell trying to forget what he did is a punishment. However, in a country that does have the death penalty this is definitely a crime worthy of the sentence.
Aly Rustom
killed 5 of his own flesh and blood....
Mr Kipling
I can understand people being against the death penalty in some cases but in this one, why would anyone want to keep this pathetic excuse of a human being alive?
u_s__reamer
Ironically, in this instance, the rope will be a release from suffering for the wretch who inflicted so much pain and suffering on his family, but society needs to study such cases seriously to try to learn more about the mental world of such deviants. Rather than revenge psychiatric care would be a more humane solution with greater benefit to society.
Kobe White Bar Owner
My 4 year was on my lap and I would burn in hell to keep her safe. What kind of a creature is capable of such a crime. Must have a few screws loose. But glad he can’t use it as an excuse to get a lighter sentence.
Fighto!
Finally, some good news, and genuine punishment. Hope the leadup to the noose is terrifying for this animal.
Rest in Peace to the poor woman and her five children.
Stewart Gale
@kentarogaijin
You sure love the gallows mate. I think you would have enjoyed living in medieval times.
In this case, I think I agree that the death penalty is a fitting punishment.
Jimizo
@Fighto and Kentarogaijin
No need to tag-team it, sport. We get the message.
Mocheake
Well deserved punishment. Hope he swings sooner than later.
Yubaru
Wow? Where do you pull this number from? Right, just overexaggerating!
There are only a little over 100 inmates on death row here! And your link means nothing and does nothing to support your false information either!
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201229/p2a/00m/0na/011000c
Brian Wheway
He says he wanted to get a divorce, its simple just fill the correct paper work and file it with your solicitor and the local govement dept and move out. There is absolutely no reason to kill any one of your family.
I am suprised that hes not been charged with endangering other peoples lives as well, as he set fire to his apartment, the word apartment surgests that it was part of a block of housing, the fire could have spread to other houses/appartments, also no criminal damage charges for wrecking the apartment.