Asia

Man Pleads Not Guilty to 2016 Murder of 19 People at Japan Care Home

Flowers are placed in remembrance of the victims of a mass stabbing at a care home in Tsukui Yamayuri En, in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, in July 2016. / Kyodo

By Kyodo News 8 January 2020

TOKYO—A man accused of killing 19 residents and injuring dozens more in a knife rampage at a care home for mentally disabled people near Tokyo in 2016 pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in court, insisting he was mentally incompetent.

Satoshi Uematsu, 29, admitted to the attack during the first court hearing at the Yokohama District Court, but his defense team argued he should not be held responsible as he was either mentally incompetent or had a diminished capacity.