Suspect Officially Charged , With Murder in Assassination , of Shinzo Abe.
On January 13, Tetsuya Yamagami was charged
with murdering the former prime minister. .
On January 13, Tetsuya Yamagami was charged
with murdering the former prime minister. .
Associated Press reports that the announcement
means Yamagami will stand trial for allegedly
shooting Abe with a homemade pistol in July.
Following an almost six-month
mental evaluation, prosecutors said
that Yamagami was fit to stand trial.
According to the Nara District Court,
Yamagami was also charged
with violating a gun control law.
Police have stated that Yamagami said
he shot Abe because of the former prime
minister's ties to the Unification Church.
Police have stated that Yamagami said
he shot Abe because of the former prime
minister's ties to the Unification Church.
According to Yamagami, he developed a grudge against the
church because his mother had made massive donations
to the organization which had bankrupted his family.
While Japanese law allows for capital
punishment, experts say that Yamagami
is likely to face life in prison if convicted.
We must take very seriously
the heinous act of violence that
resulted in the death of former
Prime Minister Abe, Hirokazu Matsuno, Chief Cabinet Secretary, via Associated Press.
Associated Press reports that Abe's grandfather,
former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, helped the
Unification Church take hold in Japan in the 1960s.
Associated Press reports that Abe's grandfather,
former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, helped the
Unification Church take hold in Japan in the 1960s.
According to AP, the church is known for
pressuring members to make large donations
and is widely considered a cult in Japan.