Mamoru Takuma, who was earlier in 2003 sentenced to...

Mamoru Takuma, who was earlier in 2003 sentenced to death for murdering eight children at an elementary school in Osaka Prefecture in 2001, married a female supporter after his sentence was finalized. According to sources close to the case, the woman, who is about Takuma's age, had been supporting Takuma, 40, by sending him encouraging letters and confectionery through his lawyers while he was standing trial. Takuma was sentenced to death on August 28 for killing eight children and injuring 13 others and two teachers during a stabbing rampage at Ikeda Elementary School in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, on June 8, 2001. The sentence was finalized at the end of September after Takuma withdrew an appeal that had been filed by his lawyers earlier that month, saying he hoped to be executed within the next three months. After the sentence became final, the woman asked him through letters to marry her and sent him a marriage registration form. Takuma accepted and registered the marriage with local authorities. The sources said the woman wants to provide "emotional support" to Takuma. He had previously been married four times but was single at the time of the slayings.