Mass Killer Smiles As Police Transfer To Prosecutor

Five months before the attack, Satoshi Uematsu, 26 sent a letter addressed to the speaker of Japan's lower house of parliament, in which he called for euthanasia for people with severe disabilities.

"I am fully aware this is a statement that defies common sense," he said, according to a copy of the letter obtained by the Kyodo news agency.

The man accused of carrying out Japan's worst mass killing since the end of the Second World War appeared to be smiling as he was transferred from police custody to see prosecutors.

Uematsu, a former employee at the care centre where he is suspected of murdering 19 residents, looked relaxed as cameras surrounded the police van.

According to Japanese media he has been co-operating with investigators and answering their questions clearly.

Shortly after the attack in Sagamihara he reportedly walked into a police station and told officers: "I did it. 

"I want to get rid of the disabled from this world."

He is since said to have detailed how he tied up members of staff up with plastic ties, and deliberately targeted people with such severe disabilities that they were unable to communicate.

Cable ties and a number of knives were found in his car.

Images showed the steering wheel stained with blood.

The facility cared for people with a wide range of disabilities - both for short term respite and long term residential care for those with the most severe disabilities.

The attack took place in the early hours of the morning, when residents would have been asleep.

Many are reported to have had their throats slit.

Nine women and 10 men were killed, while 26 were injured, many of them seriously. The youngest victim was 18 years old, the oldest was 70.