Japan’s ‘Black Widow’ to hang – 3 murdered

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TOKYO, Nov 7, (Agencies): A onetime millionairess dubbed the “Black Widow”, who tricked elderly lovers into drinking cyanide and then pocketed millions in insurance payouts and inheritance, was sentenced to death in Japan on Tuesday. Kyoto District Court condemned Chisako Kakehi, 70, to the gallows for the murder of three men — including a husband — and for the attempted murder of another, ending a high-profi le case that has gripped the country.

Kakehi became notorious after using poison to dispatch a number of elderly men she was involved with, drawing comparisons with the spider that kills its mate after copulation. “The accused made the victims drink a cyanide compound with a murderous intention in all four cases,” Judge Ayako Nakagawa told the court, according to public broadcaster NHK. “The cases were well prepared in advance. They were cunning and malicious. I have no choice but to impose the ultimate penalty.” Nakagawa rejected defence lawyers’ arguments that Kakehi was not criminally liable because she was suffering from dementia.

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