Overview
- In his first remarks in court, Tetsuya Yamagami said his outlook changed after his mother joined the Unification Church, stating, "My outlook on life and how I think radically changed."
- He apologized for the killing, saying he was "terribly sorry for the inconvenience caused by this outcome" and that he "did not deserve" to have lived to his current age.
- According to defense counsel, his mother donated about 100 million yen to the church, including a life insurance payout, later went bankrupt, and the defense says his resentment deepened after family hardships including his brother's suicide.
- The hearing drew heavy public interest, with 318 applicants vying for 33 public seats in a 9.6-to-1 lottery at the Nara District Court.
- Defendant questioning is set for Nov. 25 and Dec. 2–4, and Yamagami had earlier admitted to the murder charge stemming from the July 8, 2022 shooting in Nara.