Murder of Sayano Horimoto

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In 2005, Sayano Horimoto (堀本紗也乃, Horimoto Sayano^?, 1993 - December 10, 2005) was murdered by a teacher, Yu Hagino (萩野裕, Hagino Yū^?, born 1982), at her juku.

The 12-year old, a sixth grader at Shinmei Primary School, became uncomfortable around 23-year old Hagino, a teacher at a cram school in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture and student at Doshisha University. Sayano complained to her parents about the teacher when he became suggestive around her. On December 10, 2005, Hagino sent the other students outside. He then disconnected a security camera and stabbed Sayano Horimoto to death.

Yu Hagino was convicted of injuring a man before the murder. He went to a mental hospital in the autumn of 2003, but he became worse after that, taking Fluvoxamine.

Because his crime occurred when the murder of Airi Kinoshita made a panic in Japan, he was noted as a child killer by Japanese people. Hagino received an 18-year prison sentence for his crime on March 6, 2007. Prosecutors appealed, seeking heavier penalty.