The Sendai High Court on Thursday upheld the death sentence for a taxi driver who burned five people to death during an attempted robbery at a branch of Takefuji Corp., a consumer loan firm, in Aomori Prefecture in May 2001.
Mitsuhiro Kobayashi, 45, had appealed his death sentence, denying he had murderous intent when he set the company on fire while the employees were still inside. He claimed he believed the employees had already escaped through the emergency exit or fire escape.
Presiding Judge Shigeru Matsuura dismissed Kobayashi's appeal, saying, "He was able to recognize that it was highly probable the employees would be burned to death inside the office if he set it on fire."
Kobayashi immediately appealed to the Supreme Court.
The fire resulted in the deaths of five employees at the loan company's branch in the city of Hirosaki. Four other employees suffered serious burns.
The high court said Kobayashi decided to rob the firm to repay debts incurred from betting on bicycle races. He set the branch office on fire to vent his irritation over the failed robbery attempt, it said.
He continued to gamble on the races even after burning the employees to death.
"The crime showed his coldblooded personality," the judge said. "Rehabilitating him would be extremely difficult."
The Aomori District Court sentenced Kobayashi to death last February, saying he bore an "enormously heavy" burden of guilt for the crime.
Kobayashi entered the office at around 10:50 a.m. on May 8, 2001, spread gasoline on the floor and demanded money. After the branch manager refused to comply, he ignited the gasoline and fled.
