The court found Wei Wei, 25, guilty of robbery and the murder of Shinjiro Matsumoto, 41, a clothing dealer, his wife and their two children, in conspiracy with two other Chinese.

The bodies of the four were found at the bottom of Hakata Bay, handcuffed and weighted down with dumbbells.

The three men were also accused of stealing around ¥37,000 from the family.

"The crime was based on self-centered motivation and was extremely heinous," presiding Judge Shogo Kawaguchi said. "There are no circumstances that should be taken into consideration for leniency."

Wei's lawyers said they will consult with their client about whether to appeal.

Wei, who was a student at a Japanese-language school at the time of the crime, told the court in December: "It is a fact that I did it. I hope for the death penalty if it comforts the victims' relatives."

A Chinese court in January found two other Chinese men guilty in the Fukuoka murders and sentenced one to death and the other to life in prison.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 28, 2005
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