The case of Chisako Kakehi (black widow) who's been romantically linked to at least ten men who have later died has captivated a country where no virtually crime occurs. |
A one-time millionaire dubbed the "Black Widow" over the
untimely deaths of lovers and a husband, admitted poisoning her last partner at
her trial this week in a multiple murder case that has gripped Japan.
Chisako Kakehi, 70, has become notorious over accusations she dispatched
a number of elderly men she was involved with, drawing comparisons with the
spider that kills its mate after copulation.
Kakehi is on trial for the murders of three men including a husband and
the attempted murder of another, all to allow her to collect on insurance
policies.
Prosecutors suspect she used cyanide to rid herself of her lovers,
amassing a reported one billion yen ($8.8 million) in payouts over 10 years.
Her trial began in late June, but this week she stunned the court by
telling judges it was true she had murdered her fourth husband in 2013.
"I was waiting for the right timing as I wanted to kill him out of
deep hatred," the Asahi newspaper quoted her as saying on Monday.
The Fuji television network quoted her as saying on Monday that the
crime was just "an issue of money."
But on Wednesday, Kakehi appeared to step back from those statements.
"I don't remember (what I said)", she testified, according to
the Mainichi daily.
Kakehi's lawyers have argued she is not guilty of murdering Isao Kakehi
on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Kyoto District Court said last year that medical examinations found that
Kakehi had early-stage dementia but was fit to stand trial.
If convicted of murder she could face the death penalty.
Kakehi shrugged off the prospect on Monday, saying "I'd be happy to
die if you give me a drug now," according to the Asahi.
- Wealthy and childless -
Kakehi had relationships with many men, mostly elderly or ill, meeting
some through dating agencies, where she reportedly stipulated that prospective
partners should be wealthy and childless.
Prosecutors say the men perished at her hands after making her the
beneficiary of life assurance policies that ran into millions of dollars.
Reports say she subsequently lost much of the fortune through financial
trading.
Japan's criminal justice system has come under scrutiny in the wake of
Kakehi's arrest, with questions being asked as to why a number of her lovers'
deaths were not investigated as suspicious.
In several cases, autopsies were not carried out on their bodies something
that could have found traces of the cyanide detectives now believe she used to
kill them.
Kakehi, who is also known as "The Poison Lady", is said to
have stashed some of the substance in a plant pot that she later threw out.
Cyanide was found in the body of at least one of the men she was
involved with before her recent marriage.
Police who earlier raided her home in Kyoto found traces of cyanide in
the rubbish, media said.
They also found paraphernalia for administering drugs and medical books
at an apartment she kept south of Kyoto.
The final hearing in the murder case is to be
held in October with the verdict expected to be handed down in November.
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