For the 2021 murders of his 29-year-old wife and 1-year-old daughter, a man receives a life sentence.

A 29-year-old man was given a life sentence by the Niigata District Court for the 2021 murders of his 29-year-old wife and 1-year-old daughter.

According to NHK, a panel of lay judges convicted former nurse Ken Watanabe guilty on Friday after he entered a guilty plea to the accusation.

The verdict states that on November 7, 2021, at around 10:30 a.m., Watanabe used a cord to strangle his wife Haruka and daughter Sunao at their residence. At 1:30 p.m., he dialed 119 to report that he had discovered his wife and daughter dead.

Watanabe’s goal, according to the prosecution, was to kill his wife and daughter since they stood in the way of him and his lover’s continued connection.

The court was also informed during their trial that Watanabe had covertly provided his wife sleeping pills before she was about to go driving.

In his verdict, the presiding judge said, “The crime was planned well in advance, and after the murder, he also tried to make it look like his wife had committed a double suicide with their daughter. His motive of wanting to become closer to his lover was selfish, and his criminal responsibility is extremely serious.