the Tokyo District Court sentenced to death Tsuyoshi Watanabe, 44, who had pleaded not guilty in the trial,

the Tokyo District Court sentenced to death Tsuyoshi Watanabe, 44, who had pleaded not guilty in the trial, which began on Aug 20, and which was heard by lay judges. Watanabe and another man, Takaaki Kuwahara, 42, were charged with killing financier Makoto Shimomi, 51, and his 48-year-old wife Mie, who had been living in Switzerland for four years prior to their deaths. They were said to live a high-flying lifestyle in Europe and owned apartments in Tokyo and Chiba, as well as several luxury cars.