OSAKA -- In an emotional, six-hour closing argument that ended with quotations from the Greek tragedy "Antigone," lawyers for Mamoru Takuma, who has admitted to massacring eight elementary school students in 2001, said he is not guilty by reason of insanity.

But their hopes that he might be spared the death penalty when the ruling is handed down Aug. 28 were all but dashed following a final statement by Takuma himself.

"I have no concerns about dying," said the 39-year-old Takuma, reading from a series of handwritten notes that contained no apology or regret for his actions. "If it had been a kindergarten, I could have killed more children."