Tokyo [Japan], October 28 (ANI): A person charged with assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 pleaded responsible on Tuesday, as his long-awaited trial started three years after the deadly taking pictures, Kyodo News reported.
The accused, 45-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, admitted to killing Abe, Japan’s longest-serving postwar chief, utilizing a do-it-yourself firearm throughout a marketing campaign speech within the western metropolis of Nara.
The Nara District Court mentioned it should maintain a number of hearings by December earlier than delivering its verdict on January 21.
According to Kyodo News, Yamagami advised investigators he carried out the assault resulting from a deep grudge in opposition to the Unification Church, which he blamed for his household’s monetary collapse.
His mom reportedly donated about 100 million yen (round USD 650,000) to the group, leaving the household in debt.
Investigative sources mentioned Yamagami focused Abe as a result of the previous chief’s grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, had helped introduce the Unification Church, based in 1954 by a staunch anti-communist in South Korea, to Japan.
The trial, which has drawn nationwide consideration, noticed 727 individuals queue exterior the courthouse on Tuesday morning in hopes of securing one of many 32 public seats out there, distributed by a lottery system, Kyodo News reported.
Court paperwork revealed that earlier than the taking pictures, Yamagami performed a number of check firings of his do-it-yourself weapons, together with close to a facility linked to the Unification Church.
He was later indicted not just for homicide but in addition for damaging property and violating legal guidelines regulating firearms, explosives, and weapon manufacturing.
The courtroom confirmed that Yamagami underwent a six-month psychiatric analysis earlier than his indictment, which concluded that he was mentally match to face trial.
Witnesses anticipated to testify embrace Yamagami’s mom, a spiritual scholar, and a lawmaker who was current throughout the taking pictures.
Abe’s assassination throughout an election speech on July 8, 2022, shocked Japan and prompted intense scrutiny of the ties between the Unification Church and politicians, particularly members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which Abe as soon as led.
Nara Prefecture, the place the taking pictures occurred, can be the constituency of Sanae Takaichi, Abe’s protege who not too long ago turned Japan’s first feminine prime minister earlier this month. (ANI)