Summary
Tetsuya Yamagami, who admitted to killing former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, is set to be sentenced. Yamagami's defense claims he acted due to grievances tied to his family's financial struggles caused by the Unification Church, while prosecutors seek a life sentence for the shooting. Abe's killing has sparked wider investigations into the church and its connections to political figures.
Key Facts
- Tetsuya Yamagami confessed to killing former PM Shinzo Abe during a trial in 2022.
- Yamagami's sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, with prosecutors demanding life imprisonment.
- Yamagami's defense argues he was driven by "religious abuse" due to financial issues linked to his mother's involvement with the Unification Church.
- The assassination occurred using a homemade gun during a public campaign event in 2022.
- Abe's murder led to scrutiny of the Unification Church and its influence on politicians, resulting in ministerial resignations.
- The Tokyo court revoked the Unification Church's status as a religious corporation in March 2023, citing exploitative practices.
- Shinzo Abe was the longest-serving Prime Minister in Japan's history and his death shocked the nation and the world.
