Guam man guilty over deadly Japanese tourist attack

An excellent decision and bravo for reaching the verdict in a relatively timely fashion. Best wishes to the victims for a brighter future.

Ridiculous. The fact that "He knew what he was doing" does nothing to suggest he was clinically sane.!

If Japan only had quick and appropriate just like this...

"His lawyers argued he spiraled out of control into psychosis after his grandfather died and his girlfriend moved to Utah."

The above excuse is viable in Japan for Japanese

"DeSoto was also convicted of attempted murder. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced Sept. 25."--This is the usual way the U.S. judicial system works.

Notice how the US judicial systems determines what in a person's mind= "The jury agreed with prosecutors who say DeSoto knew what he was doing" That's right the US system always thinks it knows what you are doing.

Conversely. The Japanese never completely knows what a Japanese criminal is thinking, nor does the Japanese Judicial system determines what's in A Japnese person's mind.

The Jail time for the poor and non white citizens is usually lenghtly if not Judge dredd ends it on the scene-case in point : Eric Garner

Boohoo his Girlfriend left for Utah..I wonder why,big surprise...Fry boy fry

justice is served and the only sympathy that will go out is to the victims who were there just vacationing. Just so sad life is ended in such a pointless act.

I am glad he will get what he deserves.

His lawyers argued he spiraled out of control into psychosis after his grandfather died and his girlfriend moved to Utah.

Desoto wasn't insane, he was stupid. He was a mad little kid who took out his rage on other people.

The following was the testimony of his ex-girlfriend who had been trying to get the hell away from this killer. He told her via Skype........

YOU will forgive me for what I will do tonight, you will find out tomorrow.

Then she went on.

She said she tried to stop communicating with the defendant after his family told her to “cut him out of her life.” DeSoto was distraught and emailed her 17 times and in his attempt to communicate to Acasio, he began contacting Acasio’s sister and father, who was on military deployment at the time. She said she finally answered his call via Skype on Feb. 11, 2013.

Justice is served, now may he rot in the hell of his own creation. If justice would truly be served he will die a slow and painful death.

Good point: "If Japan only had quick and appropriate just like this"... indistinguishably

"Guam’s economy depends heavily on tourism"

When three people are victims, Insanity pleas do not work well with jurors. Many psychiatrists, defence attornewy group has to provide and takes days and days in the court process. I don't know Guam Judicial procedure but maybe same as USA that require all jurors have to agree or mistrial. Jurors use evidence only. Tourisms are not in consideration when they discuss.

Roulette wheel. Different jury, he makes non-guilty. Different, more personable perhaps, defense attorney, he makes non-guilty. Different attitude in court, he makes non-guilty.

Justice should be dispensed with checklists and absolutism, not dependent on theatricals and luck.

Wouldn't expect him being non-white to make too much difference in Guam. 2000 census shows Guam population 6.9 pct white. In video below summarizing the case and closing arguments, only the opposing attorneys appear white. The article gives a lot more details, and a clip of defendant chasing someone.

Apparently the defense excluded from their slides a prison psychiatrist who'd had lots of time to interview the defendant and found no psychosis, discussing only two psychiatrists who found psychosis and one unexperience psychiatrist who didn't. May have backfired with the jury, they probably didn't like the attempt to ignore contradictory evidence.

http://pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46993:desoto-trial-closing-arguments-conclude-now-its-time-for-jury-to-decide&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156

I met a guy from Guam who happened to know the person who did the crime. Said he was bad news, very unstable and people gave him a wide berth. I wonder, where will he serve his crime? Guam didn't seem like the kind of place to have serious penitentiaries. It's like a micro version of Hawaii, you can drive around it in 3 hours.

@Luca

The fact that "He knew what he was doing" does nothing to suggest he was clinically sane.!

I believe that IS the definition of clinically sane in law.

Insanity pleas rarely work, contrary to what 80s action movies would have you believe.

Good verdict!

Justice should be dispensed with checklists and absolutism, not dependent on theatricals and luck.

Unlike the TV courtrooms, most judges will shut-down a lawyer who tries for a "Matlock stunt" or a Johnny Cochrane poem. Judge Ito received harsh criticism for letting the OJ Simpson trial turn into a bigger circus than it already was. I think you'll find most courtrooms are lacking "theatricals" these days.