Tetsuya Yamagami, charged with fatally shooting former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, has pleaded guilty to murder and firearms violations during his first court appearance. At the Nara District Court, Yamagami, 45, stated, "It is all true. There is no doubt about it."
He is accused of shooting Abe during a speech in Nara in July 2022, with video showing him approaching Abe with a homemade gun. Earlier that day, 727 people lined up for a chance to enter the courtroom for the trial, which took over three years to begin due to a lengthy psychiatric evaluation and pretrial delays, including a suspicious package advocating for a lighter sentence.
The court has scheduled 19 trial days with lay judges, with a ruling expected on January 21 next year. Yamagami has claimed he targeted Abe because of the former prime minister's ties to the Unification Church, whose practices he blames for his family's poverty.
The trial will consider Yamagami's troubled upbringing, with the defense planning to call five witnesses, while prosecutors will focus on the severity of the crime. A key moment will be Yamagami's first public explanation of his motives. Abe's assassination raised concerns about the church's fundraising tactics and its influence.
Yamagami's mother remains loyal to the church and has said her faith has strengthened since the shooting.
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