Takahiro Shiraishi
Takahiro Shiraishi (C) at the first trial at Tokyo District Court Tachikawa Branch in Tachikawa, Tokyo Image Credit: AFP

Tokyo: A Japanese man dubbed the "Twitter killer" was sentenced to death on Tuesday for murdering and dismembering nine people he met online, a Tokyo court official said.

"The death sentence was handed down" to Takahiro Shiraishi, the official told AFP, giving no further details.

Shiraishi, 30, had admitted killing and butchering his young victims - all but one of whom were women.