Tokyo: A Tokyo Court sentenced a Japanese man dubbed the “Twitter killer” on Tuesday for murdering and dismembering nine people he met online. Takahiro Shiraishi (30) admitted killing and butchering his young victims who he met on the social media.

His lawyers had argued he should receive a prison sentence because his victims, aged between 15 and 26, expressed suicidal thoughts on social media and so had consented to death. “None of the nine victims consented to be killed, including silent consent,” Judge said, as per the media reports.

“It is extremely grave that the lives of nine young people were taken away. The dignity of the victims was trampled upon,” the Judge reportedly added. NHK said 435 people turned up to watch the verdict, even though the court only had 16 seats available for the public.