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April 17, 1962 - Hiroaki Hidaka

Over a five-month period in 1996, Hidaka killed and robbed four women in Hiroshima, exploiting his position as a taxi driver to access vulnerable victims. The case drew additional attention after his execution, when his defense attorney alleged that prison authorities had unlawfully denied him access to his client — a procedural claim that raised questions separate from the crimes themselves.

From Wikipedia

Hiroaki Hidaka (日高 広明, Hidaka Hiroaki; 17 April 1962 – 25 December 2006) was a Japanese serial killer.

Early life

Hidaka was born in the Miyazaki Prefecture. He was originally an excellent student, but he failed to enter the University of Tsukuba, his target college. He entered the Fukuoka University instead, but eventually dropped out. He often borrowed money, drank and went to prostitutes. In April 1989, he moved to Hiroshima and began to work as a taxi driver.

Hidaka married in 1991, and had a daughter in 1993, but his wife entered a mental hospital.

Murders

Hidaka killed and robbed four women between April and September 1996. One of his victims was a 16-year-old girl who engaged in enjo-kōsai. He was arrested on 21 September 1996.

Trial and execution

The district court in Hiroshima sentenced Hidaka to death on 9 February 2000, a sentence that he did not appeal. He was executed by hanging on 25 December 2006. After his execution, his lawyer, Shuichi Adachi, protested that he had been illegally refused access to his client by prison authorities.

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