Japan has carried out its first execution in over a year, putting to death Takahiro Shiraishi, a serial killer known as the “Twitter killer”.
Shiraishi’s crimes sent shockwaves throughout Japan back in 2017, sparking a national debate about how suicide is discussed online.
A Deadly Online Deception
Shiraishi, who was 30 at the time, preyed on vulnerable individuals, mostly young women between 15 and 26, who were struggling with suicidal thoughts.
He made contact with them on Twitter, promising to help them die, and in some cases, even claiming he would kill himself alongside them.
His Twitter profile read: “I want to help people who are really in pain. Please DM me anytime.”
A House of Horror
In October 2017, police discovered body parts in coolers and tool boxes at Shiraishi’s apartment in Zama, near Tokyo, while searching for one of his victims.
The gruesome discovery led to the uncovering of nine dismembered bodies, sending shockwaves throughout the nation.
A Twisted Defense
During his trial, Shiraishi’s lawyers argued for the lesser charge of “murder with consent”, claiming his victims had given their permission to be killed.
They also requested an assessment of his mental state. However, Shiraishi later disputed his own defense team’s version of events, admitting that he killed without the victims’ consent.
A Change in Twitter Rules
The case led to Twitter amending its rules to explicitly state that users should not “promote or encourage suicide or self-harm”.
Japan’s justice minister, Keisuke Suzuki, who ordered Shiraishi’s execution, described the killer’s actions as “genuinely selfish” and aimed at satisfying his own sexual and financial desires.
A Deadly Reminder
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