FORMER SENIOR GANGSTER, ELDEST SON SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING 4 PEOPLE

a former senior gangster and his eldest son were sentenced to death for murdering four people in Japan. The Fukuoka District Court convicted Jitsuo Kitamura, 63, and Takashi, 26, of robbery, murder and other charges. The Jitsuo's 47 year old wife, Mami, and their younger son Takahiro, 22, had earlier been given death sentences over the cases. According to the court all four conspired to kill Sayoko Takami, 58, and steal money from her in 2004. Takashi and Takahiro sneaked into Takami's home late at night on September 16, 2004, strangled her 15-year-old son, Joji, and stole jewellery. On Sept. 18, the four strangled Takami and stole 260,000 yen from her. They also murdered her 18-year-old son, Tatsuyuki, and his 17-year-old friend, Junichi Hara, who witnessed the crime.