A Japanese court has sentenced a man to death for fatally stabbing 19 intellectually disabled people at a care home almost four years ago.

Satoshi Uematsu was found guilty of homicide and other charges. He also injured 26 people with knives in the attack that lasted several hours. The 30-year-old targeted residents of the Tsukui Yamayuri-en home in Sagamihara, near Tokyo, in 2016. Uematsu was a former worker at the facility.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Kiyoshi Aonuma referred to the maliciousness of what he described as extremely grave crimes.

Uematsu's lawyers maintained he was innocent and could not be held responsible for the murders because of a mental disorder caused by long-term marijuana use.

During the trial, Uematsu admitted he targeted the victims because he thought he could kill them easily. He said people with severe disabilities have no means of communication.

Prosecutors asked for the death penalty. The judge ruled that Uematsu could be held criminally responsible.