Japan Executes Notorious 'Twitter Killer' Takahiro Shiraishi

In a significant move, Japan has executed Takahiro Shiraishi, a serial murderer known as the "Twitter Killer," who infamously took the lives of nine individuals in 2017. This execution marks Japan's first application of capital punishment since 2022 and has reignited discussions about online dialogue surrounding suicide. At the time of the killings, Shiraishi lured young women, aged 15 to 26, to his apartment under the guise of offering assistance to those in despair. His intentions quickly became sinister as he strangled and dismembered them.

The case drew public outrage due to the chilling nature of the killings, which surfaced when police discovered body parts in containers at Shiraishi's residence in Zama, near Tokyo, in October 2017. Utilizing Twitter, the platform now known as X, he preyed on vulnerable users, posting a message that implied a willingness to alleviate their suffering. His misused statement read, "I want to help people who are really in pain. Please DM me anytime.”

The discovery of dismembered remains and his horrendous acts led prosecutors to seek the death penalty while Shiraishi’s defense argued for a lesser charge, maintaining the victims had consented to their deaths. This argument was ultimately challenged by Shiraishi himself, who later confessed to killing without their agreement. The verdict hearing in December 2020 attracted significant public attention, with hundreds attending to witness the judgment. Shiraishi's heinous actions also prompted immediate changes to Twitter's policies, reinforcing the prohibition against promoting suicide or self-harm on the platform.

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