Woman sentenced to death by hanging

The Supreme Court of Japan today, Tuesday, June 29, upheld the death sentence of a Japanese woman with the nickname “black widow” who had killed three of her comrades with poison, for financial reasons, as reported today by local media.

The decision of the country’s highest court, which is not open to appeal, was taken after the rejection in 2019 of an appeal by the lawyers of Sisako Kakehi to annul the death sentence, which in Japan is carried out by hanging.

The 74-year-old woman has been found guilty of killing three men – one of whom was her husband – and attempting to kill a quarter in a case that has rocked Japan.

She became famous after using cyanide, which earned her the nickname “black widow”, in a reference to the type of spider that eats males after mating.

Supreme Court President Yuko Miyazaki said the death penalty was “inevitable” as Sisaki Kakehi’s “criminal liability” was “particularly serious”, according to state-run NHK television.

“She used cyanide on the men after making them believe she would be a lifelong companion. “It is a calculated crime, based on a strong intention to kill,” she added.

During the trial, her lawyers argued that she suffered from dementia and therefore could not be held criminally responsible for her actions.

According to the prosecution, she killed her comrades after making sure that she was appointed heir to their property after death.

She targeted often elderly or sick men, and met some through conspiracy theories, demanding that her potential mates be rich and unassuming.

For more than 10 years, Kakehi has amassed more than 1 billion yen (7.6m euros in current prices) in the form of life insurance, real estate and bank deposits, according to the press. However, she has lost a significant portion of her fortune in venture capital and was arrested in 2014.