AICHI (TR) – The Nagoya District Court has handed a life sentence to a 28-year-old former sex parlor operator for the brutal, premeditated murders of two women in 2023, reports NHK (July 10).
In December 2023, Haruki Soga, of no fixed address, drowned a 30-year-old woman he was living with in the bathtub of a Nagoya apartment. Shortly after, he went to a karaoke parlor near Nagoya Station, where he fatally stabbed a 20-year-old female acquaintance with a kitchen knife.
During the trial, Soga’s criminal liability was the primary point of contention. His defense team argued for a reduced 24-year sentence, claiming the defendant was in a state of diminished capacity due to severe depression.
Prosecutors, however, demanded life behind bars. They argued that while the incident occurred after Soga developed suicidal thoughts stemming from depression, the psychological condition had only a limited impact on his actions.
“Anguish of the victims”
Handing down the ruling on July 10, presiding judge Takashi Ishikawa rejected the defense’s claims and determined that Soga possessed full criminal capacity. The judge noted that when Soga turned himself in, he answered police questions coherently, demonstrating he was fully capable of judging right from wrong and controlling his behavior.
“The anguish of the victims, who suddenly had their lives stolen away, is immeasurable,” Judge Ishikawa said. Condemning Soga for specifically selecting targets who were easy to kill, the judge added, “The crimes were premeditated and brutal,” before handing down the prosecution’s requested life term.
