Photo/Illutration Satoshi Uematsu is sent to prosecutors on July 27, 2016, the day after his arrest in Sagamihara’s Midori Ward in Kanagawa Prefecture. (Asahi Shinbun file photo)

YOKOHAMA--Prosecutors on Feb. 17 demanded the death sentence for Satoshi Uematsu, arguing that he was of sound mind when he murdered 19 people and injured 26 at a care home for disabled residents.

“(The mass murder) shocked society and spread fear among people with disabilities, their families and staff members of such care facilities,” prosecutors said in their closing argument at the Yokohama District Court. “We need to firmly show society that such crimes will never be tolerated.”

Uematsu, 30, wearing a black suit, listened calmly to the 70-minute closing statement by the prosecutors. He stared at them when they demanded the death sentence.

Uematsu is accused of breaking into the Tsukui Yamayurien care home in Sagamihara’s Midori Ward, Kanagawa Prefecture, early on July 26, 2016, binding staff workers and stabbing and slashing 43 disabled residents.

“The huge number of victims is unprecedented for a solitary murderer,” prosecutors said. “Their pain and fears are beyond description.”

Uematsu, a former employee at Tsukui Yamayurien, has admitted to committing the attack. However, his defense lawyers argued that he cannot be held criminally responsible for his actions because of his deteriorated mental state.

Uematsu, who has behaved erratically during his trial, has said he attacked the care facility because he thought that disabled people who can’t communicate should be killed.

Prosecutors said his motive “goes against social values that respect the rights of people with disabilities.”

By repeating his discriminatory remarks against disabled people during his trial, prosecutors said, “Uematsu hurt the feelings of the victims and their family members, and he has zero possibility of reforming.”

As for the defendant’s mental state, prosecutors said his thoughts reflect his own character and were developed through his experience of working at the care home as well as by remarks from radical politicians. They said such thoughts were not based on an abnormal mentality.

Prosecutors also said Uematsu’s use of marijuana had only a minor influence when he plotted and committed the crime: “He has shown that he bears complete criminal responsibility.”

Uematsu’s defense lawyers will give their closing argument on Feb. 19.

A verdict is expected on March 16.

(This article was written by Hirohisa Yamashita, Mirei Jinguji and Shun Hayashi.)

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