JAPAN: TOP COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE OF MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING 2

the Supreme Court in Japan upheld the death sentence of Kunihiko Hamakawa, 47, for fatally shooting two men and stealing about 12 million yen from them in Mie Prefecture in 1994. Justice Tatsuo Kainaka turned down Hamakawa’s appeal, saying the defendant had shown no remorse or repentance over the crime. Hamakawa, in conspiracy with Haruseki Kin, 47, shot insurance agent Yoichi Hiramatsu, then 36, and stole 10 million yen from his bank account in July 1994, according to lower court decisions. Hamakawa and Kin were also found guilty of shooting and killing trader Isao Takagi, then 63, and stealing 2.27 million yen from Takagi's bank account in November 1994. The Tsu District Court sentenced Hamakawa to death in 2002, a decision upheld by the Nagoya High Court in 2004. Kin is serving a life sentence for the crimes.