Inmate who murdered a Japanese psychic is killed in an attack at Halawa Prison

A man convicted of two murders that caused a media uproar in Japan in 1994 died Monday after being found beaten and stabbed in his cell at Halawa Correctional Facility on Oahu, according to law enforcement officials.

Raita Fukusaku, 59, was imprisoned for nearly 30 years for the shooting of Japanese fortune teller Toako “Kototome” Fujita and her son Goro. Toako Fujita’s body was found in a Honolulu apartment that had been set on fire. Her son’s body was found the next day in a car parked nearby.

Toako Fujita was known because she was consulted by Japanese politicians and business leaders. Fukusaku was arrested after attempting to pawn her jewelry in Japan.

According to media reports, Fukusaku was the first Japanese citizen charged with murder to be extradited to the United States.

Fukusaku was accused of shooting both victims but denied pulling the trigger. He claimed Japanese “yakuza,” or organized crime figures, were to blame, but was convicted of the murders and given two consecutive life sentences.

The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Fukusaku was found lifeless and bleeding on the floor of his cell. Honolulu police reported he was found at 11:30 p.m. This was a general population inmate who was described by correctional staff as a docile prisoner.

“It was determined that the victim was assaulted and stabbed by his cellmate, a 38-year-old male,” Honolulu police said, adding that a weapon was recovered. A statement from corrections officials said he also suffered trauma to his head and neck.

Prison staff immediately called 911 and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until emergency medical services personnel arrived and took over, the statement said. Rescue workers declared the occupant dead.

Fukusaku’s cellmate was immediately removed from the cell and placed in a holding cell, prison officials said. The cellmate has not been publicly identified.

The case is the second killing of a Hawaii prison inmate this year. Anton Myklebust, 46, was found beaten and strangled in a cell at the Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, Arizona, on May 4.

The US State Department Criminal Investigation Division is leading the investigation into Fukusaku’s death. Prison officials and HPD are also investigating, the Department of Corrections said.