JAPAN. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TWO MURDERS

the Mito District Court, Japan, sentenced a 44-year-old man to death for killing and robbing two elderly female acquaintances in Ibaraki Prefecture in January 2005.
Presiding Judge Masahiko Hayashi said that Soji Fujisaki had planned to steal cash from the two women after he had killed them because he was afraid that they would call the police. Hayashi said the criminal acts stemmed from Fujisaki's "strong intent to kill."
The defendant "came up with the plan to fulfill his desire to eat and drink in a hostess bar where a woman he liked was working," said the presiding judge, adding that there was no room for leniency.
According to the ruling, Fujisaki broke into the house of Yai Yamaguchi, 75, in Hokota on the early morning of January 18 and strangled her. He then took about 77,000 yen worth of cash to pay for his hostess bar habit.
Fujisaki also killed Yoshi Kubo, 79, in a similar manner on January 28.