Man in Japan gets life sentence for killing own mother, brother and grandmother with crossbow
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The Kobe District Court refrained from imposing the death penalty, as the presiding judge noted the man's developmental disorder had affected his motives.
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TOKYO – A court on Oct 31 handed a man a life sentence for killing three members of his family with a crossbow at his home in western Japan in 2020, a case that prompted the government to tighten rules on possession of the weapon.
The Kobe District Court refrained from imposing the death penalty sought by the prosecutors on Hideaki Nozu, 28, with presiding Judge Chiwaki Matsuda noting his developmental disorder had affected his motives.
According to the ruling, Nozu fatally shot and killed his 75-year-old grandmother and his 22-year-old brother, both of whom lived with the defendant, and his 47-year-old mother, who was visiting their home in Takarazuka, Hyogo prefecture, on June 4, 2020.
All three were shot in the head with bolts fired from the crossbow, while his 55-year-old aunt was also struck and seriously injured.
A crossbow is a powerful, ancient weapon that looks like a cross between a bow and a firearm. It features a bow assembly mounted horizontally on a stock or tiller.
Unlike traditional bows, which require continuous muscular strength to hold drawn, a crossbow uses a mechanical locking system, typically a catch and trigger mechanism, to hold the string and a bolt – a short, heavy arrow – in a state of tension. This design allows the user to aim with steadier hands and unleash significantly more force upon pulling the trigger. KYODO
