A thief who denied allegations of murdering a jewellery...

A thief who denied allegations of murdering a jewellery shop manager and five female employees to cover up his gem heist was sentenced to death.
Kazuo Shinozawa, a one-time restaurant owner from Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture, admitted during interpellation that he had intended to murder the six when he robbed and set fire to Jewelry Shop Tsutsumi on June 11 2001 but retracted his confession in later hearings.
"I started a fire with a lighter only to intimidate the employees," Shinozawa, 51, insisted in a hearing when he denied murderous intentions and only admitted to charges of robbery.
However presiding Judge Kenichi Hiruma of the Utsunomiya District Court dismissed Shinozawa's claim and ruled that he murdered the six because they knew of his theft.
Shinozawa visited the shop in Utsunomiya to rob gems at a time when he was deeply in debt to loan sharks. After saying, "Don't move an inch," he ordered manager Kimiko Arai to tie the legs and arms of her five employees with adhesive tape before he bound the manager, the ruling said.
He then poured 7 liters of gasoline over them and the floor, setting fire and burning them to death before making away with more than 290 jewels and valuables worth some 140 million yen.
During hearings, Shinozawa admitted robbing the store and said he felt sorry for the victims. His lawyers appealed the ruling.