Overview
- The Nara District Court will deliver its ruling on Jan. 21 in Tetsuya Yamagami’s jury trial, with the defendant having admitted to killing former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
- Prosecutors have asked for life imprisonment, while the defense argues the punishment should not exceed 20 years.
- Testimony detailed years of family harm linked to the Unification Church, including large donations, and Yamagami told the court he sought to strike back at the group.
- Prosecutors say his background had only limited impact on his decision to kill and question the logic for targeting Abe, whereas the defense portrays him as a victim of religiously rooted abuse.
- A separate dispute centers on whether the homemade firearm qualifies as a pistol under Japan’s gun law, with the defense seeking acquittal on certain firearms charges.