A Japanese court has sentenced to death a man who killed four people in a shooting and stabbing attack in 2023, rejecting the defence’s argument that he has schizophrenia.
Masanori Aoki, now 34, stabbed two women who were taking a walk in the city of Nakano and then shot two policemen – who arrived at the scene after receiving an emergency call – with a hunting rifle.
Gun violence is rare in Japan, where strict firearms laws are in place. Even rarer is the shooting of multiple police officers. The last such incident happened more than 30 years ago.
The defence had argued that a life sentence was more appropriate for Aoki, who has “diminished capacity” because of schizophrenia.
Prosecutors agreed that Aoki had suffered from delusions but argued that he had committed the murders in a fit of rage, and was able to discern right from wrong at the time.
They also said Aoki had demonstrated “exceptional cruelty and cold-bloodedness,” according to Japan Times.
Aoki, who was reportedly wearing a camouflage uniform, a hat, sunglasses and a mask, reportedly attacked the women because he believed they were bad-mouthing him, The Mainichi newspaper reported. It is not clear if he knew the women.
After the attack, Aoki holed himself up in his parents’ home in Nakano city for 12 hours before surrendering to the police. His father, Masamichi Aoki, is the speaker of the city’s assembly.
Before Masanori Aoki was arrested, residents were told to stay at home while local authorities shared updates via email and on the neighbourhood loudspeaker, while police went door to door.
Japan has strict gun ownership rules and only allows civilians to own hunting rifles and airguns. People have to undergo an exam and mental health tests to buy a gun in Japan.
Following the quadruple murders, authorities tightened the laws to make it harder to own “half-rifles” – a hunting rifle like the one Aoki used.
The stringent regulations are also what make incidents like these, and the fatal shooting of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, so shocking.
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