In a surprising turn of events, the suspect charged in the 2019 Kyoto Animation arson attack, Shinji Aoba, admitted to setting fire to the fire that left 36 people dead.
During his first hearing on September 5, 2023, 45-year-old defendant Shinji Aoba admitted that he was indeed responsible for the fire that devastated Kyoto 1 Animation Studio this morning. July 18, 2019.
Kyoto Animation is on fire
“I felt I had no choice but to do what I did,” said Aoba, who was in a wheelchair in the courtroom. “I didn’t think so many people would die. Looking back, I went too far.”
Aoba stated that Kyoto Animation stole one of the novels he submitted to the studio in a writer contest..
Aoba was referring to a public contest held by Kyoto Animation, which required participants to submit draft novels and the winner would be promised that their story would be adapted into an anime. This competition was held before the attack.
Although he admitted to the offence, Aoba’s defense team gave a not guilty plea on the grounds that the defendant had an intellectual disability or impaired mental capacity when committing the crime. The defense team is aiming for a reduced punishment.
According to them, Aoba is delusional and he is fighting against a “dark individual” who has been manipulating his life. The defense even argued that the death toll had only increased due to the studio’s structure.
However, the allegation of plagiarism and the defense’s plea were dismissed by Kyoto Animation.
Prosecutors countered Aoba’s claims, saying he mistakenly believed the studio had plagiarized one of his novels. They asserted that he committed the crime because of “unreasonable hatred”.
Aoba’a trial was conducted on September 5, 2023 at the Kyoto district court (Kyodo)
“He may have been delusional but the offenses were not based on that,” the prosecution’s opening statement read, “He is completely psychotic.” having ability.”
They also argued that Aoba believed that a female director at Kyoto Animation, whom he admired, had stolen the novels he submitted. Her success combined with his own failures aroused hatred in him, which also contributed to Aoba’s crimes.
According to the prosecution, Aoba initially planned to commit a mass murder at Obiya Station a month before the incident. The Kyoto Animation fire happened. He entered the station with six knives, but decided not to proceed with the plan.
Aoba is facing murder and attempted murder charges. The verdict of the trial will be made on January 25, 2024 after 23 more hearings.
A terrible fire broke out at KyoAni’s Studio 1 building on July 18, 2019. There were 70 people inside the building at the time. 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 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: Japan Times
