Japan has executed a man who murdered nine people in 2017, the first time since 2022 that the country has enacted capital punishment. The serial killings by Takahiro Shiraishi,dubbed the "Twitter killer", had shocked the country and triggered debate over how suicide was discussed online. Shiraishi, then 30, lured his victims - most of them young women between the ages of 15 and 26 - to his apartment, before strangling and dismembering them. The killings came to light in October 2017, when police found body parts in the Japanese city of Zama, near Tokyo, when they were searching for one of the victims. Warning: Readers may find some details in this story distressing. Shiraishi later admitted to murdering nine suicidal victims and revealed that he got acquainted with them on Twitter, the social media platform now known as X. He then told them he could help them die, and in some cases claimed he would kill himself alongside them. His Twitter profile contained the words: "I want to help people who are really in pain. Please DM [direct message] me anytime." Nine dismembered bodies were found in coolers and tool boxes when officers visited his flat, which was dubbed by media outlets as a "house of horrors". While prosecutors sought the death penalty for Shiraishi, his lawyers argued for the lesser charge of "murder with consent", claiming his victims had given their permission to be killed. They also called for an assessment of his mental state. Shiraishi later disputed his own defence team's version of events and said he killed without the victims' consent. Hundreds of people showed up at his verdict hearing in December 2020, when he was sentenced to death. The murders also prompted a change by Twitter, which amended its rules to state users should not "promote or encourage suicide or self-harm". If you are feeling emotionally distressed and would like details of organisations which offer advice and support, clickhere. In the UK you can call for free, at any time, to hear recorded information on 0800 066 066. In Japan you can get helphere.
Japan executes 'Twitter killer' who murdered nine
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"Japan Executes Takahiro Shiraishi, Known as the 'Twitter Killer', for Nine Murders"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Japan has carried out the execution of Takahiro Shiraishi, a man convicted of murdering nine people in a series of gruesome killings in 2017. This marks the first instance of capital punishment being enacted in the country since 2022. Shiraishi, infamously referred to as the 'Twitter killer,' gained notoriety for luring his victims, predominantly young women aged between 15 and 26, to his apartment under the pretense of helping them with suicidal thoughts. His heinous acts were uncovered when police discovered dismembered body parts in coolers and tool boxes at his residence in Zama, near Tokyo, while searching for one of the missing individuals. The case sparked nationwide outrage and led to intense discussions about the role of social media in facilitating such tragic incidents, especially regarding how suicide is portrayed and discussed online.
During the trial, prosecutors sought the death penalty, while Shiraishi's defense team argued that his victims had consented to their deaths, proposing a lesser charge of 'murder with consent.' However, Shiraishi later contradicted his defense's claims, stating that he had killed without any consent from the victims. His sentencing in December 2020 drew significant public attention, with hundreds attending the court proceedings. The impact of the murders was profound, prompting Twitter to revise its policies to prohibit the promotion or encouragement of suicide and self-harm on its platform. This tragic case has not only highlighted the dark side of social media but also raised critical questions about mental health support and the responsibility of online platforms in preventing such incidents.
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