A Japanese court has sentenced Tetsuya Yamagami to life in prison for the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. Yamagami used a homemade gun to shoot Abe while he was delivering a speech in Nara. The court termed the act as “vile and extremely vicious.”
Yamagami admitted to the killing and was sentenced as per the prosecutors’ demand. His defense counsel argued for a prison term not exceeding 20 years, claiming Yamagami was influenced by a religious group and his difficult upbringing led him to shoot Abe.
Yamagami expressed resentment towards the Unification Church due to financial issues faced by his family from his mother’s donations to the group. He believed Abe was involved in the church’s political activities in Japan. The court found Yamagami guilty of murder and violating gun laws.
The assassination case shed light on the Unification Church’s fundraising practices, prompting a government investigation. This led to a court order to dissolve the church and revoke its tax benefits. Legislation was also enacted to regulate fundraising tactics of organizations.
Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving leader, was shot and killed at the age of 67 while giving a speech in Nara. He came from a prominent political family, serving as PM from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 until health issues forced him to resign in 2020.
