NARA ¨C The Nara District Court is set to rule on Wednesday on the man standing trial for assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, bringing to an end a high-profile case that exposed religious exploitation, the dangers of DIY weapons and political ties to religion.
One of the key points in the trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, is how judges ¡ª comprising six lay judges and three professional ones ¡ª will weigh on the defendant¡¯s troubled upbringing and motivations for the attack.
Yamagami is charged with killing the former prime minister with a homemade gun during the influential politician¡¯s campaign rally in Nara in July 2022. He has pleaded guilty to murder and other charges, including the production of gunpowder and property damage.
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