The man who killed Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe has been sentenced to life in prison, three and a half years after he shot him dead at a rally in the city of Nara in 2022.
Tetsuya Yamagami had pleaded guilty to murder charges at the trial's opening last year, but how he should be punished has divided public opinion in Japan. While many see the 45-year-old as a cold-blooded murderer, some sympathise with his troubled upbringing.
Prosecutors argued that Yamagami deserved life imprisonment for his grave act. The assassination of Abe, who remains Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister, has shocked a nation where gun violence is virtually unheard of.
Yamagami's defence team sought leniency, attributing his actions to religious abuse perpetrated by the Unification Church, stating that his mother's devotion to the church had driven the family into financial ruin and fostered resentment towards Abe due to his perceived connection to the controversial organization.
On Wednesday, Judge Shinichi Tanaka of the Nara district court sentenced Yamagami to life without the possibility of parole, as the prosecution had requested. The judge condemned his actions as despicable and extremely malicious.
During the trial, numerous aspects of Yamagami's life were shared, including a tearful testimony from his sister, who spoke about their harrowing experiences stemming from their mother's deep involvement with the church.
Prosecutors remained skeptical of the defense's arguments, emphasizing the need to grapple with the real implications of Yamagami's actions. Social analysts have remarked on how the case reflects broader societal grievances with personal tragedies intersecting into violent behavior.
This high-profile case not only sheds light on the personal circumstances that can drive individuals to commit heinous acts but also raises critical questions about how society sees and addresses mental health and familial issues.
