Death Penalty: Japan

Kanae Kijima, from Japan, is sentenced to death after being convicted of killing three men she briefly dated by carbon monoxide poisoning. She would burn charcoal briquettes after giving the men sleeping pills. Two of the men were found dead in a house by carbon monoxide poisoning, which is a common type of suicide in Japan. The other mad was found dead in a rented car also from carbon monoxide fumes from a burning briquette. These men ranged in age from 41 to 80. The unusual factor about this case was her conviction was achieved without direct evidence such as witness testimony or a confession. Only circumstantial evidence was heard by the jury during her court case. The evidence was so convincing that the jury did not need any direct evidence to convict Kanae Kijima to death. The main problem was the faulty defense. Her defense team argued that the two victims that were found dead in a house committed suicide because they were distraught at the idea of her leaving them. This is not only unlikely like also does not explain the third victim. She was tied to all three men because her name was matched to all three on a dating site. She was also proved to have bought sleeping pills and coal briquettes. Lastly, it was proved that she was with all three men right before they died. The court also heard how she wanted to stop them from demanding back money she had taken from them over the course of their brief relationships. Because of all this, the jury convicted her guilty and sentenced her to death after they gave the nick name of “black widow”. "Three times she carried out extremely serious and vicious crimes," presiding Judge Kazuyuki Ohkuma said.

            I am not surprised with the conviction of Kanae Kijima. Although the death penalty is a very hot and controversial topic, I do see justice in this case because Kanae Kijima did kill three men. Her death would justify the killings of the three men. I think that the death penalty could only be justified if the convicted person committed a murder and would be a threat to society if they were not sentenced. The jails are very crowded and for serious criminals, the death penalty could not only give closure to the families of the victims, but also help control the population in the jails. The only part of this case I find a little controversial is how there was no direct evidence. Many cases in history have shown that juries have sentenced an innocent person to time in jail or even death. Direct evidence in this case would help disprove the innocence of Kanae Kijima. Although, this article does make the circumstantial evidence very convincing, only the people in the court room know exactly what was said during the case. The death penalty is only legal is certain states in America. The fate of Kanae Kijima could have potentially been different if she committed these crimes in the United States. 

http://news.yahoo.com/black-widow-sentenced-death-japan-073104146.html