Overruling a lower court decision that imposed a life...

Overruling a lower court decision that imposed a life sentence, the Tokyo High Court sentenced Takashi Mochida to death for robbing and murdering a 44-year-old female employee of Japan Tobacco Inc. Mochida, 57, was given a life sentence in May 1999 by the Tokyo District Court. Prosecutors were dissatisfied with the district court ruling and appealed to the high court, asking for the death penalty. In handing down his ruling, the High Court's Presiding Judge ,Mutsuo Nitta said that the crime was extremely serious, making it inevitable that Mochida be given the death sentence. Mochida planned to appeal to the Supreme Court.