In the initial hearing at Kyoto District Court on Tuesday, 45-year-old Shinji Aoba from Saitama Prefecture admitted to the arson attack on Kyoto Animation Co., commonly known as KyoAni. The 2019 attack resulted in 36 deaths and 32 injuries. Aoba stated, "I didn't imagine so many people would lose their lives, and I now think I went too far."
The defense argued that Aoba was suffering from delusions, believing he was combating a "dark figure." They called for a reduced sentence due to his diminished mental capacity and suggested the studio's design might have contributed to the high death toll.
Prosecutors, however, said Aoba erroneously thought that KyoAni had plagiarized his novel and that he was under government surveillance. They claimed he was fully aware and should be held entirely responsible for the tragedy. After conducting a psychiatric evaluation in December 2020, they indicted him, stating he could be held criminally accountable despite his history of mental illness.
The lay judge trial will consist of 23 more sessions, with the final ruling expected on January 25, 2024.
Source: Livedoor News