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 said Yamagami deserved life imprisonment for his grave act. Abe's assassination stunned the country, where there is virtually no gun crime. Seeking leniency, Yamagami's defense team argued he was a victim of religious abuse due to his mother's ties to the controversial Unification Church.
His mother's devotion to the church led to the family's financial ruin, and he held a grudge against Abe for the latter's connections to the church. On Wednesday, Judge Shinichi Tanaka sentenced Yamagami to life in prison without parole, as requested by the prosecution.
Yamagami sat quietly with his hands clasped as the sentence was delivered, with nearly 700 people waiting to attend the courtroom hearing.
The murder of Abe, a central figure in Japanese politics, prompted investigations into the Unification Church and its practices, shedding light on its influence on politicians.
Abe's shocking murder during a political campaign emphasized the societal impacts of religious institutions in Japan and raised discussions about mental health and personal grievances leading to violent acts.
The case has left many contemplating Yamagami's motives and whether his difficult background justifies his actions, as observers remain divided on these moral dilemmas.
