Three years after the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the man accused of carrying out his murder pleaded guilty on Tuesday.

ABC News

Three years after the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the man accused of carrying out his murder pleaded guilty on Tuesday.

"It is all true," Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, told the Nara District Court. However, a lawyer for the defendant said they would contest the charge of violating a firearm law, stating that the homemade handgun used to shoot Abe was, at the time, not covered by the legislation.

Nippon

"It is all true," Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, told the Nara District Court. However, a lawyer for the defendant said they would contest the charge of violating a firearm law, stating that the homemade handgun used to shoot Abe was, at the time, not covered by the legislation.

Abe, who had been Japan's longest-serving prime minister when he resigned in 2020, was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2022/japan-former-pm-shinzo-abe-fatally-shot-at-campaign-event">shot twice while giving a campaign speech in the western city of Nara on July 8, 2022</a>. Yamagami was apprehended at the scene while Abe was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Guardian

Abe, who had been Japan's longest-serving prime minister when he resigned in 2020, was shot twice while giving a campaign speech in the western city of Nara on July 8, 2022. Yamagami was apprehended at the scene while Abe was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

According to local reports, Yamagami told investigators that he targeted Abe for his and his party's promotion of the Unified Church, which he accused of bankrupting his family. Yamagami's mother is said to have donated roughly 100 million yen ($660,000) as proof of her commitment to the cause.

BBC News

Reuters

According to local reports, Yamagami told investigators that he targeted Abe for his and his party's promotion of the Unified Church, which he accused of bankrupting his family. Yamagami's mother is said to have donated roughly 100 million yen ($660,000) as proof of her commitment to the cause.

The allegation prompted widespread discussion in Japan about the church, founded in South Korea, and its fundraising efforts. It also sank the approval ratings of Abe's successor, Fumio Kishida, after an internal investigation by his Liberal Democratic Party found that 179 of its 379 lawmakers had ties to the church.

Dw.Com

The allegation prompted widespread discussion in Japan about the church, founded in South Korea, and its fundraising efforts. It also sank the approval ratings of Abe's successor, Fumio Kishida, after an internal investigation by his Liberal Democratic Party found that 179 of its 379 lawmakers had ties to the church.

Kishida ordered a probe of the church in October 2022, resulting in a Tokyo court stripping it of its tax-exempt status and ordering it to liquidate its assets in March of this year. However, it would still be allowed to operate in the country. Meanwhile, the impact of the church is expected to feature heavily in Yamagami's upcoming hearings. The case is set to run until January next year.

The Japan Times

Kishida ordered a probe of the church in October 2022, resulting in a Tokyo court stripping it of its tax-exempt status and ordering it to liquidate its assets in March of this year. However, it would still be allowed to operate in the country. Meanwhile, the impact of the church is expected to feature heavily in Yamagami's upcoming hearings. The case is set to run until January next year.

The Associated Press

The Japan Times #

ABC News #

"It is all true," Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, told the Nara District Court. However, a lawyer for the defendant said they would contest the charge of violating a firearm law, stating that the home-made handgun used to shoot Abe was, at the time, not covered by the legislation.

Nippon #

"It is all true," Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, told the Nara District Court. However, a lawyer for the defendant said they would contest the charge of violating a firearm law, stating that the home-made handgun used to shoot Abe was, at the time, not covered by the legislation.

The Associated Press #

Guardian #3257

According to local reports, Yamagami told investigators that he targeted Abe for him and his party's promotion of the Unified Church, which he accused of bankrupting his family. Yamagami's mother is said to have donated roughly 100 million yen ($660,000) as proof of her commitment to the cause.

BBC News #

Reuters #

According to local reports, Yamagami told investigators that he targeted Abe for him and his party's promotion of the Unified Church, which he accused of bankrupting his family. Yamagami's mother is said to have donated roughly 100 million yen ($660,000) as proof of her commitment to the cause.

Guardian #

Dw.Com #

Guardian #3479

Guardian #3648

While political assassination can never be justified, Abe's killing brought to light the malign influence of the Unified Church on Japan and its politicians, forcing the nation to take measures against the organisation.

While political assassination can never be justified, Abe's killing brought to light the malign influence of the Unified Church on Japan and its politicians, forcing the nation to take measures against the organisation.

Three years later, trial begins for man accused of ex-PM Abes assassination

Although Japan already had some of the world's strictest laws on gun control, the murder of Abe prompted a wake-up call on the need for the country to update its legislation following developments such as 3D printing and online tutorials on how to make weapons.

Although Japan already had some of the world's strictest laws on gun control, the murder of Abe prompted a wake-up call on the need for the country to update its legislation following developments such as 3D printing and online tutorials on how to make weapons.

Japan's Shinzo Abe assassin pleads guilty in court

There is a 50% chance that the Liberal Democratic Party will lose its status as the largest party in the House of Representatives of Japan by March 2041, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 50% chance that the Liberal Democratic Party will lose its status as the largest party in the House of Representatives of Japan by March 2041, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Metaculus #

LDP losing largest party status in Japan

Japan: Suspect Pleads Guilty to Murder of Ex-PM Shinzo Abe

The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images

Japan: Suspect Pleads Guilty to Murder of Ex-PM Shinzo Abe

Japan

Politics

Crime & justice

Political assassination can never be justified. As an outcome of this tragedy, Abe's killing also brought to light the malign influence of the Unified Church on Japan and its politicians, forcing the nation to take measures against the organization.

Political assassination can never be justified. As an outcome of this tragedy, Abe's killing also brought to light the malign influence of the Unified Church on Japan and its politicians, forcing the nation to take measures against the organization.

Falling Out with Elgen Strait

Youtube

- YouTube

Although Japan already had some of the world's strictest laws on gun control, the murder of Abe prompted a wake-up call on the need for the country to update its legislation following developments such as 3D firearms printing and online tutorials on how to make weapons.

Although Japan already had some of the world's strictest laws on gun control, the murder of Abe prompted a wake-up call on the need for the country to update its legislation following developments such as 3D firearms printing and online tutorials on how to make weapons.

Japan: Suspect Pleads Guilty to Murder of Ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Japan: Suspect Pleads Guilty to Murder of Ex-PMPrime Minister Shinzo Abe

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Japan: Suspect Pleads Guilty to Murder of Ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Japan: Suspect Pleads Guilty to Murder of Ex-PMPrime Minister Shinzo Abe

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters