Japan mass stabbing: Accused admits murders but denies guilt

2020-01-08 13:12:28

A Japanese man has admitted killing 19 disabled people at a care home near Tokyo in 2016 but pleaded not guilty because he claims he is mentally ill. Satoshi Uematsu, a former employee at the care centre, is charged with numerous crimes, including murder. In interviews, the 29-year-old has said severely disabled people are harmful to society and should be killed. The case is one of Japan's worst mass killings and has shocked people in a country where violent crime is rare. The case has raised also questions about Japan's treatment of disabled people. All but one of the victims will not be named at the trial - apparently because their relatives fear the stigma associated with having a disabled family member.