crime

Ichihashi admits to raping, strangling Hawker, but denies intent to kill

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Wow, so this is the kind of thing that goes in trials in legal systems lacking the plea bargain. A confession of murder, by strangling no less, yet a claim it was not intentional -- all on the first day of trial!

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The parents of Lindsay Ann Hawker, Bill, third from left, and Julia Hawker, left, accompanied by daughters Lisa, center, and Louise, second from right, arrive at Chiba district

the caption is a little mixed up. I believe the father is second from left. Please also fix the name of the daughters...

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The caption is correct. Bill Hawker is third from left. The sisters' names are also correct.

Intent to kill and kill seems the same to me, you do the crime you do the time.

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maybe when he says he did not intend to kill her, he meant it was not premeditated murder. I heard on TV that he claims he tried to resurrect her by first aid breathing. What he did disgusts me...

This crime is so terrible, so sad, premeditated or not. The result is tragic. I am so sorry for Lindsay's family. It is so hard for them ... All my sympathies to the family.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

A confession of murder

I'm not sure that Japanese law makes a formal distinction, but if he's maintaining that he didn't mean to kill her then what he's confessed to is surely manslaughter, not murder.

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“But I’m responsible for her death and for that, I am very sorry.” - there you go. He's showing remorse for what he's done and so therefore doesn't need to be given a harsh sentence.

/sarcasm

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He's gonna get the death penalty

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I have no idea what will happen to this scum bag. after the Blackman farce i think pressure will be on the courts to make an example of him. The Japanese police quite rightly had bad press abroad for letting him evade capture for so long. There is a need to show that these matters will be taken seriously, so expect little mercy for him even if he pleads remorse.

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if he's maintaining that he didn't mean to kill her then what he's confessed to is surely manslaughter, not murder.

It's murder either way. Manslaughter is just "second degree" murder. Anyway if he admitted intended to strangle her, the prosecution ought to be able to slam dunk the case for first degree murder. The guy admitted he intentionally tried to cut off her breath and stifle her screams. Most of the time, strangling someone results in death. So he intended her death.

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Intent to shut someone up from screaming and intent to kill someone are two very different things. Think about it, how many times has anyone wanted to shut up a screaming baby? Of course you don't intent to strangle to the baby but you do something to keep it quiet. Poor analogy probably, but I think people get the point.

Another thing, in the Japanese courts system admission of guilt early on, showing remorse for one's actions too, goes a long way in determining a sentence. Manslaughter or 2nd or 3rd degree murder are all different, but 1st degree murder has to have intent proven to stick.

Plus, odds are, anything less than 1st degree murder is not going to end up with a death sentence.

He's got a smart lawyer working to say his life, getting his client to admit to rape, and strangulation prevents a lot of unnecessary testimony trying to "prove" the case, and now he probably gets to spend his time trying to explain the reasoning and mindset of why he ran for as long as he did.

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One thing I cant get is how they say the trial will be over on the 21st, even before it started, doesnt anyone else find that odd

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but said he did not intend to kill her.

... wow, that must have been one vigorous shoulder rub then! I mean seriously how can one strangle someone and "not intend to kill"? When I was studying first aid I was taught to administer CPR if someone hung or similarly asphixiated themselves, regardless of how long ago they'd been asphixiated) because the body is capable of automatically recovering for a surprisingly long time after the person looses consciousness (breathing can resume without assistance up to 3 or 4 minutes after loss of consciousness), and with assistance can even recover after the person's heart stops.

What I'm getting at is that strangling someone to death requires that you continue strangling for a shockingly long time, because if you release them shortly after they go limp they just start breathing again and recover. You have to strangle the person for several minutes after unconsciousness.

"Accidently" strangling someone to death is frankly nearly impossible. Anyone who continues strangling after the person goes limp for several minutes clearly intends to kill.

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There are other actions he took that are not widely reported, he is a sicko. He also has a big support group ( that's a worry on it's own) I am not a supporter of the death sentence...but this guy has almost changed my mind.

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The court may or may not accept Ichihashi's explanation of extenuating circumstances, but the other facts in the case are clear enough. He persuaded her to enter his residence under the false pretense of getting an English lesson. The parallels with Issei Sagawa, the "Paris cannibal" killer, are quite remarkable in this regard. The French made a big mistake of releasing him to return to Japan "for psychological treatment," as Japan had no means of keeping him incarcerated (since he'd never been convicted of breaking the law here). My gut feeling, based on how I've seen Japanese courts try homicides, is that Ichihashi's sentence will be between 17 to 20 years.

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Frungy makes a very good point.

It's something that always bugs me in TV/movies. The assailant strangles/smothers the victim and the victim struggles. The victim goes limp suddenly, and it's assumed that the victim is dead. (Kind of like how people who get shot are automatically dead, someone who gets punched is automatically knocked out, etc.) People don't usually just die that easily. They'll fall unconscious before they actually DIE.

I guess it's possible that he strangled her so violently that he crushed her windpipe. In which case ... well, he deserves whatever he gets.

If he had just smothered her with a pillow hoping to keep her quiet and she'd died, he might have a better case. Of course, it would also be way more likely that she would be alive. But after holding her against her will and raping her, is it likely at all that he would have let her live? If I had to make a guess, I would say that there was no way she was getting out of there alive. :/

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How can you strangle someone without intent to kill? String this loser up! PLEASE!!!!!!

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there is quite a large gap, in the eyes of the law, between homicide and manslaughter. Ichihashi is admitting to manslaughter, which bascially equates his acts to a mistake, an unintentional murder. You drink and drive and kill someone with your car line of defense. I doubt if the lay judges will buy this defense but you never know what will happen in japan.

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There is no way Ichihashi will get death penalty. Ichihashi confessed and is sorry for what he did. Lawyers here know the rule of game on how to save the face of Japanese guy and not let him down especially when it comes to killing a gaijin. They have scripted the answers of Ichihashi and know the consequences.

Judges have enough reason to be soft on Ichihashi as he confessed. I guess he will get probably give 15 years life imprisonment. Nothing more nothing less. Let see in few days if I can guess this correctly...

Mr Editor: The ratio of male to female judges is not mentioned. Female judges would have soft corner as victim is women and would prefer to provide death penalty.

Rob

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I don't think he will get the death sentence since it was not a premeditated kill. Man slaughter or Gyomujo-Kashitsu-Chishi and 2nd degree murder are not the same here in Japan. Manslaughter is basically an accident without intent to harm, 2nd degree is accident with intent to harm. From what I hear it was not premeditated making it difficult to establish a strong motive to kill making it difficult for the prosecutors to process a 1st degree murder.

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The only thing he is sorry for is that he got caught. How long was he on the run? Plenty of time to have thought about his actions and hand himself in.

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So, let's have the news from the pathology report! The degree of force in his attack could be gleaned from the science therein. From that we could learn something of Ichihashi's mental state.........

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Even showing remorse my not lessen the punishment.

He is blatantly guilty of torturing this innocent woman, if rape is not torture then what? After that he ended her life, period.

He deserves the highest possible punishment for this, the highest of crimes, to end another person's life.

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Monkeyz: " People don't usually just die that easily."

They do if, while squeezing, you crush the trachea or larynx, or damage/break any of the other bones in the neck. Keep in mind, this requires something like 6 times more the amount of pressure than simply cutting off the airway. If there was an autopsy it should easily have revealed if her trachea was crushed or any of the other bones damaged and if so, I'm sorry, but it was intent to kill -- you do NOT squeeze that hard to do anything else but.

thepro: He'll never get the death penalty. Even if for some reason the judge wanted to give a harsher punishment than usual given the international pressure and attention to the case the fact of the matter is the death sentence is rarely, if ever, given unless the person murders two or more people. I predict with his 'remorse' (if he felt so bad, why run for two years and go to the extent he did to hide himself?) he'll get 6 - 10 years.

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The Headline says "Strangling" and the story says "suficating" those are not the same............you strangle by cutting off the windpipe, yiou sufficate by covering the nose and mouth. BIG difference! If you are trying to silence someone and place a pillow over their face, you can accidentally sufficate them. It's pretty hard to accidentally throttle someone by choking the neck with your hands.

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Oh, yeah. He didn't intend to kill her! He intended to rape her! She died when she fought back. Silly girl.

I hope he gets the death penalty.

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Honestly how can some of you not get that strangling someone doesn't always mean you want to kill someone. People die from a single punch to the head and I doubt you would make the same comments. A little perspective and common sense please.

He won't hang for this. He's admitted he killed her (not on purpose which is what I assumed) and "showed" remorse which is enough for him to get off being hung. The ratio of male to female judges is not mentioned. Female judges would have soft corner as victim is women and would prefer to provide death penalty. I disagree. From what I remember of studies in the area, women are more opposed to it than men are. I don't agree with it. I personally hope he rots in jail for the rest of his life. A much worse punishment in my opinion.

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I predict with his 'remorse' (if he felt so bad, why run for two years and go to the extent he did to hide himself?) he'll get 6 - 10 years.

I really hope you are wrong Smith, but here it wouldnt surprise me. It is a shame they couldnt find any evidence of corporate crime/embezzling of businsessmen on Ichihashi's part. Then he would really be doing some serious time as opposed to possibly only 10 years.

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tmarie: "I personally hope he rots in jail for the rest of his life. A much worse punishment in my opinion."

Agree, in terms of suffering. And being the pretty boy he is with all daddy's plastic surgery, he'll not have a fun go of it.

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Can someone explain to me the difference between: 1). Murder (intent to kill is detrmined I believe?) 2). Second degree murder 3). Manslaughter (killed, but accidental ie no intent to kill?).

Also how do you strangle someone and say that the intent was not there? I can understand if they bludgeoned someone or pushed them over a wall or something, but to strangle and not claim intent?)

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1st degree is intent to kill - you plan on killing the person. 2nd degree is basically knowing you are harming them but did not plan to kill them. ie, you punched someone, ended up killing them but didn't mean to kill them, just hurt them. Manslaughter is usually used in accidents when someone say, hits someone with a car by accident which results in the death of a person. At least this is how I have always understood it.

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I think the result of this case is already wrapped up and agreed among the lawyers/judge/government.

He will get a "life sentence", only to be released 15 years or so down the line when things die down. That's going to be the most 'harmonious' outcome.

But let's see, maybe Japan will surprise me...

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I wonder if the Linsey family have hatred for entire Japanese men since the loss of the daughter.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Escaping for 2 years will count against him plus the plastic surgery. He sealed his fate when he got the plastic surgery.

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I wonder if the Linsey family have hatred for entire Japanese men since the loss of the daughter.

what a weird thought. Why on earth would they?

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T_rexmaxytime: "I wonder if the Linsey family have hatred for entire Japanese men since the loss of the daughter."

I doubt it very much, although I think they have a lot of disdain for the Japanese police in general, and rightly so. We don't know what kind of support they've gotten from the Japanese public in general, but my guess is they have a lot of sympathy, and know that this act was committed by a heinous individual, not a nation of people.

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I thouht he used that rape drug, and if so, she could not scream, so I conclude, he intentionally strangled her.

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I thouht he used that rape drug

looks like you thought wrong.

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think they have a lot of disdain for the Japanese police in general,

Her father made a point of praising the efforts of the the police. So no.

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He may not not have lured her to his apartment with intent to kill. Then again he might have. However, he knocked her around pretty good before he killed her, in fact, the forensic evidence suggests a fierce struggle, or so wiki says. Just because he did not plan to kill her in advance does not mean he did not intend to kill her in the heat of that moment.

But like I keep saying, you can't prove intent directly. You can get lost in a web of trying to anyway. Why bother? Clearly his intent of wrapping his hands around her neck and beating her silly was not to aid her. This was no simple accident. He intented to rape her and proceeded to beat the hell out of her and she died in the process. Are we going to split hairs over whether he intended to kill her or not? Is there really a point bothering? He attacked her viciously and she died. That should be good enough for anyone.

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Frungy does make a good a point. In fact the BTK killer will back up everything he said. BTK tried to kill his first victims by strangulation and they all woke up! So he had to kill them again! And he was intending to kill the whole time! Yet Ichihashi gets it right his first time with no intent to kill? Please. Enough fooling around already!

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tmarie - Honestly how can some of you not get that strangling someone doesn't always mean you want to kill someone.

You say what!?!?! I'd love to hear an explanation to this. Please explain how you can strangle someone without wanting to kill them. And then, explain how he strangled her long enough to die and didn't mean it.

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Are we going to split hairs over whether he intended to kill her or not? Is there really a point bothering?

Well actually yes because the sentencing is very different for 1st and 2nd degree murder. Thankfully we don't have to debate it though because that is the job of the courts to do so.

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intention to kill equals the death sentence, hence 25 years in prison plus a deep bow.

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If Ichihashi gets off with a prison sentence, can we have just the people who are against the death penalty pay for his food, housing, clothing, medical care, etc?

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I would be interested to hear about any of his accomplaicies who assisted his escape. He ran away barefoot without possesions. He had help and will that be revealed and did the police investigate this in a thorough manner?

Serrano; Certainly i would pay for his time inside. Also would you like us to be exempt from paying your legal fees if you are wrongfully convicted and given the death sentnece?

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I put my stack of poker chips on suicide in jail in the next year or so for his sick fans. Call?

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Serrano, it actually costs more to 'kill" someone. This is based on court fees for appeals, medical checks, staff needed to be there, security and whatnot. While I get where you are going with this, why not take up issues with smokers and the like who are killing themselves and also draining the medical system. Would be better than getting angry over one person.

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There was an absolute intention not to let her live and tell.

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If Ichihashi gets off with a prison sentence, can we have just the people who are against the death penalty pay for his food, housing, clothing, medical care, etc?

How about he pays his own way sewing wallets? Then only you death supporters pay for hangings?

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Even a rapist deserves to die...

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@ serrano, sure, I'll pay. how much?

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All readers back on topic please.

I put my stack of poker chips on suicide in jail in the next year or so for his sick fans. Call?

We can only hope so. As for his "fans" - these despicable, oxygen-thieving individuals will benefit Japan greatly if they all off themselves too. Would make the country a better place all round.

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Ichihashi is too terrible. Brings shame for my great country. He should get out of this world soon!

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For one thing, why did she let him into her room? It is believed she knew him and we need to know why he suddenly decided to rape her. He needs to explain himself and the circumstances that aroused him to commit such an act. This will help in understanding other such acts committed by people like him. Just passing the guilty verdict does not educate people on the situations that might cause provocation and perhaps in his case, his ego might have been hurt and he lashed out without thinking! We have to look at this very carefully and only he can provide the reason for his brutal actions. As we know, it was not premeditated murder, nevertheless, before we place a death penalty on someone, we need to know the causes, in depth!

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

My mistake, she was in his room but still wondering why she was!

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As we know, it was not premeditated murder

Ummm...a trial has just commenced to deliberate on this. We most certainly do not know if it was premeditated murder or not.

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So let me get this straight, if I rape a woman then she cries out and I strangle her to shut her up it is not premeditated because I was shocked at her reaction to the fact that I had just beaten the crap out of her and raped her? Full life in the most unsavory jail cell with only the occasional cockroach as a companion.

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Hawker was 22 years old when she was killed. She worked as an instructor at a private language school, where Ichihashi was a student.

I see... so, apparently Nova was a private language school at that time...

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I know people will say I am making the wrong accusations/association here, but how likely is it that someone "accidently" kills someone then somehow manages to evade the whole fripping crime/judicial system for 2 years? Then suddenly feels remorseful for his wrong doings after the fact he was caught (i assume he didn't turn himself in, but hey what do I know, right?).

I don't care what the facts are, or how the lawyer's can twist it, just makes no sense, give him the life sentence and be done with it. If he gets off with anything less, then there is something **** wrong...

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I am divided between thinking he is evil or he is a product of a twisted upbringing. ? well, both parents worked since he was small , so his natural need for attention and love was not given. This has been found by experts to produce a void in the childs life. Apparently the parents spent little time with him all his life and when he wanted something they rsponded by giving cash.

Was this terrible crime caused because he was so detached from reality and love and the coldness in his family relationships made him lack empathy. His behaviour after the crime shows he was streetwise, another trait that often shows in those lacking the full attention of the mother as a developing child. It is possible that he could not relate to Lindsy as a fellow human as human interaction with his mother and also his father was lacking and instead of love he had money. This could be a good defence for him, yet i doubt that Japanese psychiatry has has managed to reach this level of undertsanding yet.

Even though a part of his crime is probably due to the lack of parental care and the mother figure, he is obviously bad and cunning and must be punsihed in a harsh manner. Obviously is possible rehabilitation and him leading a decent life in the future should be the goal.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I am analysing the facts that are in the public domain. We must not avoid the reality of violent crimes of teh modern age. Motherly love and fatherly love were substituted for cash. Now, this odes not mean someone will do evil acts but combined with a twisted mind they have possibly turned him into a killer. it may be good in cases like this for the police to look into the family background. If the parents are found to have neglected the child whilst loving momey instead, then i think they should also be tried for turning him into the beast.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"denies intent to kill"

Yeah, it just happened. While he was strangling her, she just went and died!

"judges will deliver a verdict July 21"

It takes 17 days to figure out he's guilty as hell?

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This guy should be PUNISHED the way he killed her. I have NO MERCY for such EVIL inhuman like him!

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My mistake, she was in his room but still wondering why she was!

Please someone correct me if I am wrong but these are the facts as I understand it:

She worked for Nova. He followed her home and tried to talk to her because he wanted private English lessons. She felt kind of sorry for him and agreed to be his teacher. They met in a cafe for a private lesson, and he said he had forgotten his wallet and to come back to his apartment where he will give her the money. They took a taxi to his place and she told the driver to wait, she would be back in a minute. After 20 minutes she never returned and the taxi driver got another call and left.

Motherly love and fatherly love were substituted for cash. Now, this odes not mean someone will do evil acts but combined with a twisted mind they have possibly turned him into a killer. it may be good in cases like this for the police to look into the family background. If the parents are found to have neglected the child whilst loving momey instead, then i think they should also be tried for turning him into the beast.

Oh god, here we go again! Steve - I am almost certain you will find his mother was not a working mother. Can we drop this issue, just for this case??!!

I would like to know though if my understanding is correct. I saw on the J news the other day a guy being interviewed who was in the same dormitory as Ichihashi on the run. He said he heard him on the phone to his Dad asking for money. But I thought his parents said they hadn`T heard from him whilst on the run. Is this true??! If so, Dad has some serious questions to answer.

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I am almost certain you will find his mother was not a working mother.

She was/is a dentist, is father was/is a doctor. (I think I remember reading somewhere that they closed their surgeries either when Lindsay was killed or when Ishihashi was captured.)

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I'm sure there are lots of children of dentists who don't grow up into creepy stalker rapist murderers.

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Back on topic please.

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This guy should not have a trial at all. He should just be put to death or put a way for the rest of his life. What he did was totally uncalled for in every way. He is just pure evil and should not be given the chance to see, feel or smell freedom at all.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I strangled / suffocated her but I didn't mean to kill her. Uh, right. Death during rape pretty much equals murder. It's an act of violence, after all. I'll bet that he doesn't get the death penalty, but hopefully the judge will give him the maximum.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

the guy is slime trying to ooze his way out from the possibility of a death penalty, just like he tried to ooze his way out of any penalty at all by running. i hope they see thru his sham and give him what he deserves.

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Even though a part of his crime is probably due to the lack of parental care and the mother figure,

Not sure where in the story you got that from. Please cite references.

My mother worked part time. I guess I'll have to contend with assault and grievous bodily harm instead of murder.

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Stay on topic please.

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I am amazed how many people think the solution to murders is by re-committing the same act of murder.

You think he is an animal but then are instantly prepared for another human (the accused) to go through exactly the same thing. Doesn't that make you the animal? Oh no but your reason to kill is more valid than his right?

He should be put away for a long time but his life should be spared.

People like this are not born evil. they usually undergo particularly horrible childhood and experiences of abuse and as intelligent and understanding human beings we should strive to not let the revenge feeling of murder overtake our reasoning.

Come on people, try and elevate your level of thinking up a knotch...

This said I have deep sympathies for the poor parents of this girl.

I just think "murdering him back" is futile logic.

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he deserves death penalty. raping/strangling is enough...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I just can't understand how someone who feels remorse about what he's done can undergo a couple of surgeries to change his face, then write and publish a book bragging about his surviving skills without mentioning about WHY he had to run away. On top of that he had the arrogance to announce that he'll donate all profits of the book to the victim's family....It is so obvious that the only reason why this guy feels sorry now is because he fears going to jail for a long time. And his lawyers...'Lindsay-san was STILL crying loud at the time, so he tried to keep her quiet" And what exactly did they expect her to do? Fighting for her life quietly???

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He might as well get the death penalty cos if he doesn't I think someone will do him in him when he gets out anyway.

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If you hit someone, they fall and break their head open and die, the presumption would have to be manslaugher - your action was only indrectly responsible for the death.

If you strangle someone, an act which everyone knows will bring about death, the presumption would have to be the intent to kill. In such cases it would be up to you to demonstrate that you did not intend to kill, which might work in the context of a concensual "adult game", but not in the circumstance of a kidnapping and rape.

It is easy to show remorse after the event, but he did not show very much while on the run.

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It's a culture initiated by imperial China: --lying low (literally, throw out four limbs and cling oneself to the ground) makes the superior happy, hence you are pardoned (such as in the case of TEPCO). That's the tactics he will use. "The accused shows sincere remorse and vows to re - - -, hence- - -".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

As_so, that isn't the way it works. There is a difference between 1st and 2nd degree murder.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Regardless of intent, he assaulted, raped, and then tried to silence here pleas for help.

Life at San Quentin would do him wonders. Plus he'd get to meet the Tossed Salad MAn.

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"Accidently" strangling someone to death is frankly nearly impossible. Anyone who continues strangling after the person goes limp for several minutes clearly intends to kill.

Exactly! At the very least this has to be second degree murder.

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For one thing, why did she let him into her room?

You might have skimmed details there. The first time they met, she did let him into her room to show him her flat mates, presumably to let him know she did not live alone. He drew a picture of her while there.

It was another day that he lured her to his apartment. And I heard the taxi only waited seven minutes before taking off.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He won't get the death penatly although people like him deserve it.

However, let us be clear, death penalty is an obsolete way of punishing criminals, a signature of undemocratic societies, Just look at the countries that have not abolished it yet...North korea, China, USA, Japan, nice company.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Just like "LoveNot" has nothing to do with one's love life, "democratic societies" has no relevance to death penalty. So aside from your "nomenclature" such as obsolate etc, what is the reason it should be abolished?

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However, let us be clear, death penalty is an obsolete way of punishing criminals, a signature of undemocratic societies

Heh, actually, considering that there is now debate as to whether or not life in prison constitutes a violation of human rights, this argument is completely undercut. Apparently in some circles, ie the progressive European countries you are so proud of, you can commit the worst crimes, mass murder etc and still not receive more then 30 years in prison. You certainly can't be executed.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

We have no guarantee that future governments will not release offenders, who were imprisoned years previously, on the recommendations of various professional who are against any punishment in the first place. Twenty or thirty years on it is very difficult to remember the awfulness of an individual's crime and easy to claim that they have reformed. We repeatedly see murderers being able to get off lightly on the grounds of diminished responsibility and their alleged psychiatric disorders or by using devices such as plea bargaining. This tends to remove peoples' faith in justice which is very dangerous. The goverment should make it in law to have everyone's DNA profile data-based at birth, thus making detection of many murders and sex crimes much easier. If this was done and generally accepted as the main evidence against an accused person, the change will considerably reduce the incidence of the most serious and most feared crimes. The reason for this is that for most people, being caught is a far greater deterrent.

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I would be interested to hear about any of his accomplaicies who assisted his escape. He ran away barefoot without possesions. He had help and will that be revealed and did the police investigate this in a thorough manner?

Me too - I am really interested in how he managed to live on the run for so long without being discovered, and the guy who claimed he heard him asking Daddy for money. If that happened, Daddy needs hauling in front of the judge too.

I put my stack of poker chips on suicide in jail in the next year or so for his sick fans. Call?

I doubt it. It actually takes a lof of courage (IMHO) to kill yourself - something he clearly doesn`t have.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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