Shinji Aoba, 45, was sentenced to death by Japan’s Kyoto district court for being held responsible for the raging fire that destroyed the Kyoto Animation studio on July 18, 2019, killing 36 people and killing 32 others. injuries. The 45-year-old man admitted that he started the fire, one of the bloodiest crimes committed on Japanese soil in recent years, and that he was fully responsible for the massacre. Aoba, who was arrested the same day not far from where he set fire, faced five charges, including murder, attempted murder and arson. At the hearing, his lawyers requested acquittal, claiming that their client had lost his mental health.
A mitigating factor that did not spare Judge Keisuke Masuda the death penalty: “The defendant committed the crime of his own free will and out of anger towards society, without any influence or deception.” The magistrate rejected the mental disorder hypothesis: “At the time of the incident, the defendant had the ability to decide what was right and wrong and was able to fully assume responsibility”:
The judge also emphasized that the survivors who saw their comrades in flames were under psychological effects and felt guilt and remorse: “The death of 36 people is extremely serious and tragic. The fear and pain of the victims who lost their lives in Studio 1, which suddenly turned into hell, and then lost their lives.” Indefinable.” The case, one of Japan’s most serious and bloodiest mass murders, began last September and ended after 22 hearings.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
