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A Japanese man who drugged and killed suicidal women before dismembering their bodies has been given the death penalty.
On Halloween in 2017, police discovered nine human heads and more than 200 bones in Takahiro Shiraishi's apartment, reports the Straits Times.
Shiraishi lured eight women via Twitter to his tiny 13.5 sq/m apartment in Zama city, 64km from Tokyo, where he fed them alcohol, tranquillisers and sleeping pills, before robbing, raping and killing them and dismembering their bodies.
He later killed a man, who was an acquaintance of one of the missing women, when he feared the man suspected the murders, the New York Times reported.
The murders were only discovered when police officers visited his apartment and found chilly bins and boxes containing the human remains during a search for a woman who was later identified as one of his victims, according to the Guardian.
"There is no doubt that I sliced up the bodies in my bathroom with the intention of destroying evidence," he told police investigators, the Straits Times reported. "I disposed of their flesh and internal organs like garbage, but kept their bones out of fear that I would be caught."
On Tuesday (local time), 30-year-old Shiraishi appeared in court for sentencing, having pleaded guilty to all the charges against him.
"None of the victims agreed to be killed. The defendant was found to be fully responsible," judge Naokuni Yano said.
"All the murders were well-planned and the modus operandi makes it one of the most malicious murders ever in the history of crime. It caused massive shock and anxiety to a society where the use of social media is commonplace."
Shiraishi apologised to some of his victim's families, however the Straits Times reported he would not look them in the eyes.
"I am sorry for having killed some of the victims, with whom I spent a lot of time, and would like to apologise to these families," he said.
"But for the others, I don't really feel a deep sense of regret. In any case, I am sorry only because I failed when I got caught. If I wasn't arrested, I will not be regretting anything."
He was sentenced to death.
The father of one of the victims told NHK in an interview that he thought it was "a valid decision" but it wasn't what he wanted.
"Personally, I wanted him to get a life sentence over which he has no choice but to atone for his wrongdoings, rather than give him the death penalty he wanted."
Where to find help and support:
Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
Samaritans - 0800 726 666
Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584
