JAPAN COURT SENTENCES CHINESE MAN TO DEATH

a Japanese court sentenced to death a Chinese man for killing and robbing a Japanese couple who had rented him an apartment.
Xie Yidi, 29, broke into the house of Isamu Hayakawa, 64, and his wife Shoko, 57, in August 2002 and stabbed the pair to death, according to the Tokyo District Court.
After killing the two, Xie took from their house 47,000 yen (400 dollars) in cash, jewellery and gift certificates, according to court documents.
"The cruel and cold-blooded crime was done only to satisfy his monetary desire," presiding judge Hiroshi Narikawa said.
Xie, who is unemployed, had said the killing was not premeditated.
But the judge said: "He was carrying a sharp knife the entire time. One could argue that it was more of a planned act. We have reasons to doubt that he has reflected on his act. There is no room for leniency."