Shinji Aoba, the arsonist behind the Kyoto Animation fire that took place in July 2019, was sentenced to death on January 25, 2023 by presiding judge Keisuke Matsuda.
The ruling noted that Aoba was neither insane nor impaired when he committed the crimes, making him responsible for his actions.
Judge Matsuda pointed out that Aoba was hesitant to commit the crime right before it happened. The judge also admitted that Aoba had suffered from delusions based on psychiatric evaluations performed after the indictment.
However, he has stated that Aoba committed the arson of Kyoto Animation on his own, calling the act brutal and inhumane.
“The horror and pain of the victims who died in Workshop 1, which instantly turned into hell, or who died afterward are indescribable,” judge Matsuda said.
During the trial, Aoba, 45, admitted to setting a fire at Kyoto Animation that led to the tragic deaths of 36 people – the worst mass murder in nearly 20 years. He also expressed remorse for his actions and stated that he only committed the crime because he thought Kyoto Animation had stolen his novel.
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However, KyoAni president denied the arsonist’s claims.
Because Aoba admitted that he committed the crime, the focus of the trial was on whether the defendant was mentally competent.
The defense argued that Aoba was in a state of being unable to distinguish fact from fiction when he set fire to the animation studio. In their closing arguments, they argued that Aoba should not be given the death penalty, which prosecutors were aiming for, and that he should be acquitted or have his sentence reduced because of his mental disability at the time of the crime. attack.
A devastating fire broke out at KyoAni’s Studio 1 building on July 18, 2019. At the time, there were 70 people inside the building. The fire claimed the lives of 36 people and injured 33 others. In addition to the victims inside the building, the smoke also injured a man in his forties who was on his way to work.
Kyoto Animation’s production activities were initially paused after the attack, and the outbreak of the pandemic further delayed its projects.
As a new comeback after two years of aftershocks of the tragedy, the studio has continued its production activities with the release of the second part of the film Miss Kobayashi’s dragon maid.
The two memorials, as a symbol to honor the victims of the arson attack, will be unveiled on July 18, 2024, to mark the fifth anniversary of the incident.
Source: Asahi, NHK
