The initial trial for a defendant accused of murdering three family members in Japan has begun, with the defendant asserting ignorance of the charges and the defense claiming he is not the perpetrator and lacks criminal responsibility.
The trial opened on the 16th at the Saitama District Court for Jun Saito, a 43-year-old unemployed man accused of murdering three family members in HannΕ City, Saitama Prefecture, in December 2022. During the proceedings, Saito stated, "I don't know about it," while his defense team claimed that he was not the killer and, even if he were, he lacked the mental capacity to be held responsible for the crime. The charges involve the brutal murder of William Ross Bishop Jr., a 69-year-old American citizen, his 68-year-old wife Izumi Morita, and their 32-year-old daughter Sophia Morita, using an axe and subsequent arson of their residence.
The prosecution had subjected Saito to a mental health evaluation lasting approximately 10 months prior to the indictment to determine his mental state. Based on this evaluation, prosecutors concluded that he was fit to stand trial and possesses criminal responsibility. The trial is set to unfold over a total of eight sessions, including witness examinations of the psychiatric experts and questioning of the defendant himself, with a verdict expected to be announced on March 16.
