Family Crossbow Attack Suspect Makes Startling Statement About Death Penalty
“The brutality of the murder methods and means is unprecedented,”
the prosecution argued as it demanded the death penalty.
On October 15, the trial of Hideaki Nozu (28), unemployed, accused of murder and attempted murder, concluded at the Kobe District Court. Nozu is suspected of killing and injuring four family members at his home in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture, in June 2020, using a crossbow.
“Nozu first shot his grandmother (75 at the time) in the living room on the first floor. He then shot his younger brother (22) near the bathroom and called his aunt (55) who lived nearby, shooting her as well. Finally, he killed his mother (47 at the time) with the crossbow.
The aunt narrowly escaped but sustained serious injuries, including a broken neck. The grandmother and mother were killed instantly, and the brother was confirmed dead at the hospital. According to the indictment, Nozu had harbored resentment toward his family from childhood, feeling a lack of maternal affection, and planned to kill the four family members,” said a journalist covering judicial affairs for a national newspaper.
FRIDAY has been covering this case since immediately after the incident. Below, we revisit part of the crime based on interviews with neighbors at the time and introduce some of Nozu’s selfish statements.
“That kid got me!”
“I heard a scream of ‘Help!’ and then a woman came flying out of Nozu’s house. An arrow with a red feather was sticking out of her neck Police cars and an ambulance arrived immediately, and the scene was chaotic.
Amid all that, a man was standing at the house entrance, glaring at the woman. When she shouted, ‘He did this to me!’ and pointed at him, several officers surrounded him and took him into custody. The man didn’t resist at all and just stared at his home,” recalled a nearby resident.
Even after injuring and killing four family members, Nozu reportedly remained calm. What drove him to commit such a brutal act? Investigations revealed deep-seated resentment toward his mother and relatives, and feelings of inferiority toward his younger brother.
A resident from the public housing where Nozu grew up recalled:
“He lived in a three-person family with his mother, who worked outside the home, and his two sons. His father was absent, possibly due to divorce, and the family didn’t seem wealthy. The older brother was quiet and would just nod politely when greeted. The younger brother was bright and cheerful, always greeting people, and from a young age he would take the bus to a distant kendo dojo for practice.”
A middle school classmate added:
∫Nozu joined the soccer club but stopped attending practice halfway through his first year, basically becoming a ghost member. He wasn’t particularly studious and would spend afternoons playing video games, a very unremarkable type. His younger brother was also in the soccer club but played as a regular starter, was popular among classmates, and had many friends—very different from his older brother.”
“None at all.”
According to classmates, after graduating high school, defendant Notsu attempted university entrance exams but failed, eventually deciding to enroll in a backup university in Kobe. The same classmate continued:
“I heard he was expelled from that university due to unpaid tuition. Meanwhile, his younger brother graduated from a vocational school and reportedly got a job at a major housing company. Their mother was known to be strict, even at school. During the stay-at-home period of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was frequently scolded by his mother about his future, and perhaps Notsu’s frustrations exploded.”
Returning to the lay judge trial mentioned at the beginning, Notsu reportedly made the following selfish statement in court:
“I tried to kill more than three people to get the death penalty. I want to die quickly.”
When asked by the lay judges, “Do you feel any guilt?” Notsu replied, “None at all.”
The trial’s key issue is Notsu’s criminal responsibility. The defense argued that Notsu suffers from autism spectrum disorder, which influenced extreme thought patterns, and requested a prison sentence of 25 years. On the other hand, the prosecution argued that hallucinations or delusions did not affect his motive, and sought the death penalty.
Former Kanagawa Prefectural Police detective and crime journalist Taihei Ogawa commented:
“The crime shows signs of planning. He purchased a high-powered crossbow in advance, deliberately called his aunt to inflict serious injuries, and according to his own statements, killed three or more people to get the death penalty. It’s hard to say this was a spontaneous act caused by a mental disorder.”
The verdict for Notsu, who faced the death penalty, is scheduled for October 31.
PHOTO： Kyodo News
