[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

July 22




JAPAN:

Death wish: Portrait of an arsonist----From the ashes of the murderous Kyoto 
Animation arson, troubling questions and frightening patterns emerge----Kyoto 
police are piecing together the evidence behind Thursday’s deadly arson attack 
that claimed 34 lives and injured dozens of others.



After the attack on Japan’s beloved Kyoto Animation studio, an arrest warrant 
was issued for the man thought responsible, Shinji Aoba, 41, a resident of 
Saitama Prefecture, on charges of arson and murder.

The suspect’s motives remain murky. Who is Aoba and why did he commit this 
horrendous crime? What has emerged is that neither his neighbors nor the 
authorities were surprised he was involved in an apparently senseless act of 
violence.

Could, then, the tragedy have been averted? That is something the police, the 
fire department, the company, the victims’ family members and wider society 
will be asking in the days and weeks ahead.

A killer strikes

According to NHK, other Japanese media, the police and other sources, two days 
before the attack, multiple sightings of Aoba were confirmed. On Monday last 
week he was seen loitering around the parking lot of a convenience store 200 
meters from the building.

Seemingly agitated, he was playing with his smartphone. He had two containers 
with him – possibly, these were later filled with gasoline.

On Wednesday, a teenager spotted a man in a red T-shirt and blue jeans sleeping 
on a park bench about 500 meters from the studio at 8 or 9pm. He had a cart 
parked next to him. The description matches the clothing Aoba was wearing when 
he was arrested after the attack.

On Thursday morning, Aoba bought gasoline from a nearby gas station and was 
seen carrying the two 20-liter cans towards the studio on a cart. Allegedly, he 
burst into the studio building screaming “Die!” as he doused the floors with 
gasoline from a bucket.

He also is suspected of pouring the gasoline in front of all available exits 
and entrances to the building. He then ignited the gasoline with a lighter – 
setting fire to himself in the process. Although he escaped from the building 
on bare, bloody feet, he was apprehended by police.

In the early stages of questioning, while still conscious, Aoba told police 
that Kyoto Animation had “stolen his novel.” Revenge for alleged plagiarism 
appears to have been his motive.

However, in media interviews, Kyoto Animation President Hideaki Hatta said he 
had knowledge of Aoba, did not take outside submissions and did not believe 
there was any merit to the claim.

Troubled child, troubled man

Over the weekend, a clearer picture began to emerge. According to an article in 
Weekly Bunshun, he was a middle child, with an older brother and younger 
sister. His parents were divorced and he lived with his father, in poverty.

In elementary school, he joined the judo club, but had few friends. He was 
bullied in middle school and started to spend an increasing amount of time 
alone at home – a so-called hikikomori, or “shut-in.” In Japan, Japan’s 
hikikomori are increasingly mythologized as people who can turn into violent 
criminals in a flash. Aoba may fuel this belief.

He attended high school at night, did odd-jobs, worked for the prefectural 
government, delivered newspapers and worked at convenience stores. His father 
passed away some time before 2005. In 2006, Aoba was allegedly brought in for 
questioning by police for stealing underwear. Worse was to follow.

In June 2012, he robbed a convenience store, stealing 20,000 yen (US$185). He 
was jailed and released in January 2016. He was subsequently placed in a 
government welfare program for ex-convicts needing special assistance and lived 
in a partially government-managed facility, but eventually moved into his own 
apartment.

His neighbors found him alarming. A 27-year-old neighbor, who asked not to be 
named, said Aoba accused him of making loud noises at night. Aoba grabbed the 
neighbor by the collar and hair and threatened to kill him.

Local police confirmed that last August there was a complaint against Aoba for 
playing loud music at night and police had to enter his apartment via the 
balcony when he refused to open the door.

In the fire he allegedly set, Aoba was severely burned on his face, chest and 
legs. He is now in a specialist burns unit in Osaka. Police are waiting for him 
to recover before conducting a more in-depth interrogation.

There are questions about his mental state, but he appears to have been fully 
capable of planning the attack and waiting for the opportune time.

Mass murderers’ minds

Were there warning signs that should have been heeded? Anonymous death threats 
were made to the studio, via their website, up to one year before the attack, 
but police had not identified the person making the threats.

It was not known if they came from Aoba.

In March 2013, a Ministry of Justice-affiliated institute published “Research 
into Indiscriminate Cases of Mass Murder and Injury.” It limited the case study 
to 52 incidents in which an individual, without a clear motive, seriously 
injured or killed people they did not know.

Such incidents, like the attack on Kyoto Animation, are highly disturbing to 
Japan, a society that generally considers itself safe from violent crime. The 
study’s goal was to learn from, and perhaps prevent, similar attacks.

The study found 5 different categories of motive. A grudge against how the 
individual was treated (42%); anger or envy towards a particular group or 
entity (19%); a wish to escape society by being imprisoned (17%); a desire to 
commit suicide or be killed (11.5%); and an interest or desire in murdering 
other people (9.6%).

Side effects of drug abuse or hallucinations from mental illness were also 
believed to play parts.

On present evidence, Aoba would appear to fit into the 1st and possibly 5th 
categories.

The institute reached some conclusions. Recognizing that many mass murderers 
had previously been institutionalized, it recommended better risk assessments 
of violent subjects and comprehensive treatments, to continue after individuals 
were released back into society.

Aoba was in a prison-release treatment program, but does not seem to have been 
treated for homicidal tendencies.

Death wish

It’s hard to feel sympathy for the suspect, but with hindsight, patterns that 
might lead him to commit a violent crime appeared visible in his life story. 
The study noted the only other solution that might prevent mass murder was to 
proactively deal with social misfits.

In June 2008, Tomohiro Kato, 25, killed seven people in Akihabara by driving 
into a crowd. Kato said his crime was an act of revenge, venting his anger and 
frustration at a society that shunned him.

And in July 2016, Satoshi Uematsu, a former nursing home worker, stabbed to 
death 19 disabled residents of the home and injured 26 others before turning 
himself into police. Some have grouped him into the hikikomori.

“In order to make [these] individuals not feel socially isolated, we need to 
work with all facilities to address mental illness, and prevent suicidal 
behavior, so that people feel they have ‘a chance in the world’ and a place 
they feel at home,” the researchers wrote.

The study concluded that the flip side of untreated suicidal impulses in Japan 
can also be homicide. This suggests the Kyoto Animation killer could have been 
suicidal: after all, he almost died in the fire he allegedly lit.

A final irony overhangs his current treatment.

The unwritten rule of capital punishment in Japan is that any intentional act 
that results in more than three deaths is punished with hanging. While 
authorities are using every means possible to ensure Aoba recovers and survives 
so he can be questioned and tried, after medical treatment and judicial 
proceedings, he is almost certain to receive the death penalty.

(soruce: asiatimes.com)








PHILIPPINES:

Duterte asks Congress to restore death penalty for drugs, plunder



President Duterte renewed his appeal to Congress to restore the death penalty 
to curb illegal drugs and corruption in government—2 things that his 
administration has been fighting since the start of his term.

In his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte expressed disappointment 
that 3 years have passed by and illegal drugs and corruption remain to be the 
country’s problems.

“It has been 3 years since I took my oath of office and it pains me to say that 
we have not learned our lesson. The illegal drug problem persists, corruption 
continues and emasculates the courage we need to sustain our moral recovery 
initiatives,” he said.

According to the President, the Marawi siege, which he said was funded by drug 
money, is one of the reasons why he is advocating for the re-imposition of 
capital punishment.

“During that Marawi siege, tons of shabu worth millions and millions of pesos, 
drug money killed 175 and wounded 2,001 of my soldiers and policemen in that 
5-month battle,” Duterte said.

“Let the reason why I advocate the imposition of the death penalty for crimes 
related to illegal drugs,” he added.

Duterte recognized the help of the local communities in the drug war but said 
it will not be enough to truly end the drug trade unless corruption is 
eradicated as well.

“Our citizens have begun to do their part in the war against drugs, and through 
the barangay formation of anti-drug councils, and actually surrendering bricks 
of cocaine found floating in the sea into our islands,” he said.

“However, the drugs will not be crushed unless we continue to eliminate 
corruption that allows the social monster to survive,” he added.

“I respectfully request congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous 
crimes related to drugs as well as plunder,” he continued.

The President said that while there is a long way to go before the government 
puts an end to the illegal substance, he will not renege on his resolve to 
fight the drug trade.

“I am aware there is still a long way to go in our fight against this social 
menace,” he said.

“Believe me, I will end my term fighting,” he added.

President Duterte has been pushing for the restoration of capital punishment in 
the country. However, the public has criticized the Congress after the House 
Majority bloc decided to exclude plunder, rape, and treason from the list of 
the crimes punishable with death.

The exclusion is reportedly to help them arrive at a compromise after some 
lawmakers remained hesitant about voting in favor of House Bill No. 4727.

Earlier, Malacañang said that the re-imposition of capital punishment is an 
important component in keeping a crime-free and drug-free Philippines.

“The re-imposition of death penalty is an important component in building a 
trustworthy government that protects its citizens and youth from crime, 
especially the kind perpetuated by illegal drug traffickers and violators,” 
Malacañang had said.

Earlier, Duterte said that he would like to know the rationale why Congress 
decided to exclude plunder and rape from the list of crimes punishable with the 
death penalty under the said House Bill.

Duterte said that while he did not say he will not kill plunderers or corrupt 
officials, he said that rape is still one of the most heinous crimes that 
should merit the heaviest penalty.

******************

Senators expect sparks to fly as proposal to revive death penalty among first 
to be tackled



This early, Senate leaders are already expecting tedious debates to be waged 
over proposals to revive death penalty in the country.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday said that while he cannot assure 
the passage of the proposed reimposition of capital punishment, the Upper 
Chamber is expected to prioritize its discussion in the coming days.

The first regular session of 18th Congress formally opened on Monday morning, 
July 22, ahead of President Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address 
(SONA). Sotto earlier told the Manila Bulletin that he expects Duterte to 
mention death penalty in his speech.

“Perhaps, it is a priority to debate on it. I would rather say that instead of 
saying that it is a priority measure kasi it is one issue that is very 
divisive. So we’d like to perhaps start [to] debate on it,” Sotto told 
reporters in an interview before the Senate’s first session.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, for his part, said he sees 
“exciting” debates on death penalty as more senators are now backing the 
measure.

“I’m sure magkakaroon ng bakbakan (there will be a battle on) sa death penalty 
issue because we have a lot of death penalty proponents so it’s going to be 
very interesting and exciting 18th Congress,” Zubiri said.

? “But we always have the people’s hearts and minds first in the policies that 
we will craft,” he assured.

At least five bills seeking to restore death penalty for various crimes have 
been filed in Senate ahead of the opening of the 18th Congress.

Several senators who are allied with the President Duterte have already 
expressed their backing for the measure.

Sotto said he was looking forward to “healthy debates” on the matter. But he 
reiterated his belief that it stands a better chance of passage if imposed only 
against high-level drug trafficking.

Aside from death penalty, Sotto said the Senate will continue other unfinished 
business during the previous Congress.

? “More or less the amendments to the Human Security Act which eventually be 
called the Anti-Terrorism Act is going to be a priority, and then the 
amendments also to the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investments Act. 
These were some of the bills that I know were left from the 17th Congress that 
we wanted to prioritize, but for lack of time,” he said.

Zubiri added that the Palace “is asking us to pass a lot of tax reforms and 
revenue measures.”

(source for both: Manila Bulletin)








VIETNAM:

Vietnam arrests transnational drug trafficking ring's leader



The Border guard forces of Vietnam's central Quang Binh province have detained 
a Lao man, a transnational drug trafficking ring's leader, seizing over 24,000 
pills of synthetic drug, Vietnam News Agency reported on Monday.

After more than 9 months of investigation, Vietnamese relevant agencies on 
Sunday caught red-handed the 39-year-old man transporting the drug from Laos to 
Vietnam.

According to the Vietnamese law, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of 
heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making 
or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces 
death penalty.

(source: xinhaunet.com)








IRAN:

Iran claims it's nabbed 17 CIA spies, sentenced some to death



Iran said Monday it has arrested 17 Iranian nationals allegedly recruited by 
the Central Intelligence Agency to spy on the country's nuclear and military 
sites, and that some have already been sentenced to death. The arrests took 
place in the Iranian calendar year ending in March 2019 and those taken into 
custody worked on "sensitive sites" in the country's military and nuclear 
facilities, an Iranian intelligence official told a news conference in Tehran.

He didn't say how many of them got the death sentence or when the sentences 
were handed down. Iranian state television published images Monday it said 
showed the CIA officers who were in contact with the alleged spies, the Reuters 
news agency reports.

The CIA and State Department didn't offer any immediate comment in response to 
CBS News inquiries.

(source: CBS News)