Man who ass@ssinated former Japanese Leader Shinzo Abe with homemade gun sentenced to life in prison

  The man who killed Japans former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a homemade gun has been sentenced to life in prison, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported on Wednesday. The verdict brings to a close a trial over an assassination that shocked Japan, a country where gun violence is extremely rare, and reignited scrutiny of an influential religious sect. Tetsuya Yamagami shot Abe in broad daylight in 2022 while the former leader was delivering a campaign speech on a street in the western city of Nara. Yamagami used a gun he had built himself at home. Abe had stepped down as prime minister in 2020 due to health reasons but remained politically active and highly influential as Japans longest-serving leader. Shinzo Abe Yamagami, now 45, was arrested at the scene and formally indicted the following year on murder and firearms charges. In delivering the sentence, Judge Shinichi Tanaka condemned the calculated nature of the killing.It was a despicable act that the perpetrator waited for an opportunity, seized a moment, and targeted the victim with a gun, the judge said. Needless to say, the outcome was devastating. The victims wife was forced to confront his sudden death and continues to grapple with a profound sense of loss, he added, referring to Abes widow, Akie. The judge also described the attack as an extremely dangerous and malicious act, noting that it was carried out using a firearm in front of a crowd. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Nara District Court to witness the proceedings, with authorities using a lottery system to allocate limited courtroom seats. Abe served as prime minister from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020. His leadership is often regarded as Japans last prolonged period of political stability. During his tenure, he reshaped Japans security policy, expanding the countrys military role and strengthening ties with the United States while also engaging diplomatically with China. His assassination sent shockwaves through the nation and the international community, highlighting the rarity of gun-related crimes in Japan due to its strict firearms laws. The killing also triggered political turmoil at home. Since Abes resignation, Japan has seen frequent leadership changes, while his Liberal Democratic Party became embroiled in scandal, inflation challenges, and growing public discontent. The case brought renewed attention to the relationship between the ruling party and the Unification Church. Yamagami has said he blamed the church for bankrupting his family through excessive donations made by his mother, a member of the sect. He claimed he targeted Abe because he believed the former leader was connected to the organization. A government investigation later found that the church had violated regulations by pressuring followers into making large donations, leading a court to order its dissolution last year. The church has appealed the decision. Investigations revealed that more than half of ruling party lawmakers had ties to the church, with several senior figures admitting they received election support from its members. The revelations sparked public outrage and contributed to the party losing its parliamentary majority. Prosecutors described the assassination as an extremely grave incident that is unprecedented in post-war history and pushed for a life sentence. Defense lawyers argued for leniency, citing the damage inflicted on Yamagamis family by the religious group. The post Man who ass@ssinated former Japanese Leader Shinzo Abe with homemade gun sentenced to life in prison appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.