Japan Friday ordered the execution of a man convicted of murdering and dismembering nine individuals he lured via social media. Dubbed the “Twitter killer,” Shiraishi was sentenced to death in 2020 for the series of murders in 2017. The execution, Japan's first since 2022, was confirmed by the Justice Ministry, according to The Associated Press. Shiraishi was hanged at the Tokyo Detention House under strict secrecy, with authorities disclosing the event only after it had taken place. Victims targeted through social media The case came into highlight due to the brutality and method of the killings. Investigators found the remains of eight women and one man in cold-storage containers at Shiraishi’s apartment near Tokyo. Most of the victims had posted suicidal thoughts online, which Shiraishi reportedly exploited by contacting them on Twitter and offering to assist with their suicidal ideation. According to police, after luring the women, Shiraishi sexually assaulted and killed them. He also murdered the boyfriend of one of the victims to silence him. Japan's death penalty Japan remains one of the few developed countries that still retains capital punishment. Executions are typically carried out by hanging and are conducted in secrecy, with no prior notice given to the inmate or the public. Human rights advocates have intensified calls for its abolition, especially following last year’s acquittal of Iwao Hakamada, the world’s longest-serving death-row inmate, who spent decades behind bars before being cleared of charges. (With inputs from the Associated Press)
