Japan has hanged two death row inmates in the country's first executions since March.
Japan's Justice Ministry identified the prisoners executed Friday as 40-year-old Junya Hattori and 31-year-old Kyozo Matsumura. Hattori was convicted of raping and killing a 19-year-old woman in 2002. Matsumura killed two of his relatives in 2007.
Japan resumed its use of capital punishment in March after a 20-month break.
Japan had no executions in 2011, but with Friday's killings, brings this year's total to five. According to the Justice Ministry, it has 130 convicts on death row.
The United States and Japan are the only major industrialized democracies to carry out capital punishment.
The lack of transparency in the Japanese system has been criticized by human rights groups, but capital punishment is generally supported by the public, according to opinion polls.
Germany's top human rights official issued a statement saying he was "shocked" by the executions.
Monday, May 20 2013 6:03 AM EDT2013-05-20 10:03:42 GMT
Metro-North is urging commuters in Connecticut to make alternate plans starting on Monday. Train service on much of the New Haven line remains suspended after Friday's train derailment
Metro-North is urging commuters in Connecticut to make alternate plans starting on Monday. Train service on much of the New Haven line remains suspended after Friday's train derailment
Monday, May 20 2013 5:58 AM EDT2013-05-20 09:58:10 GMT
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
Sunday, May 19 2013 10:57 PM EDT2013-05-20 02:57:40 GMT
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:35 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:35:12 GMT
A bicyclist was killed when he was struck by a livery cab in Brooklyn early Sunday morning. Police say the victim was riding eastbound on Eastern Parkway between Underhill and Washington Avenues
A bicyclist was killed when he was struck by a livery cab in Brooklyn early Sunday morning. Police say the victim was riding eastbound on Eastern Parkway between Underhill and Washington Avenues
