Japanese Man Executed For Killing Seven In Tokyo Truck And Stabbing Rampage

A Japanese man who killed seven people in a lorry crash and stabbing rampage in Tokyo in 2008 has been executed. Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa told reporters that Tomohiro Kato was hanged at the Tokyo detention centre earlier on Tuesday. Japan has maintained the death penalty despite growing international criticism. Mr Furukawa said capital punishment was a justified response to heinous and violent crime and scrapping it was not appropriate at this point. He said Kato had thoroughly prepared to commit the mass killings — “an atrocious act that led to extremely serious consequences and had a major impact on…