Death penalty sought for man over 2019 Kyoto Animation arson attack

From Kyodo

November 7 2023

KYOTO – Prosecutors on Thursday demanded capital punishment for a man who has admitted to the 2019 arson attack at Kyoto Animation Co. that killed 36 people, while his defense counsel has called for an acquittal, arguing he was not mentally competent at the time.

Shinji Aoba, 45, is facing charges including murder over the blaze on the famous animation studio’s premises. The ruling by the Kyoto District Court is expected on Jan. 25.

The focus of the lay judge trial is on whether Aoba is legally competent.

The prosecutors have said Aoba believed that Kyoto Animation had plagiarized a novel he entered in a contest held by the company and he was under surveillance by authorities. They have argued that while he may have been deluded, he can be held fully responsible for his actions.

His defense team has argued that Aoba was suffering from delusions and believed he was fighting back against a “dark figure,” arguing that if he is convicted he should be given a reduced sentence due to diminished capacity.

Aoba entered Kyoto Animation’s Studio 1 on July 18, 2019, at around 10:30 a.m. and used gasoline to start a fire, killing 36 and seriously injuring 32 of the 70 employees and others in the building, according to the indictment.

The studio, often referred to as “KyoAni,” is known internationally for producing a number of animation works, including “K-On!” and “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.”