Category: Assassination of Shinzo Abe

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 27, 2025 Number of comments0
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Crime Japan Mental Health

Shinzo Abe’s Shooter Expected to Plead Guilty in Court on Tuesday

Tetsuya Yamagami is expected to plead guilty to murdering former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the first hearing of his trial at Nara District Court on Tuesday, more than three years after the fatal shooting in the western city of Nara in July 2022. The defense plans to claim that the damage Yamagami suffered from the controversial Unification Church religious group was behind the crime. On the other hand, the prosecution is expected to argue that the influence of the group on the incident should not be exaggerated and that the viciousness of the crime itself should be emphasized.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 22, 2025 Number of comments0
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Crime Disability Japan

Abe Killer’s Mother to Testify in Court

The mother of Tetsuya Yamagami, indicted for killing former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a handmade gun in Nara in 2022, will go to court as a defense witness, it was learned Wednesday. 
   In the final pretrial arrangement proceeding held the same day, Nara District Court decided to have five witnesses testy for Yamagami, 45, and seven others for the prosecution as requested by the two sides, respectively.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 14, 2025 Number of comments0
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Japan

Trial of Ex-PM Abe’s Assassin Set to begin on October 28

The first court hearing of the lay judge trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, who was indicted for the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022, will be held from 2 p.m. on Oct. 28, Nara District Court said Friday. 
   Yamagami, 44, has been charged with murdering Abe and violating the firearms and swords control law. He is expected to admit that he had an intention to kill Abe, according to informed sources.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 17, 2025 Number of comments0
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Crime Disability Japan

Trial of Shinzo Abe’s Assassin May Begin in October

The trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, charged with murdering former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, may begin this October, it has been learned. On Friday, Nara District Court presented the Nara District Public Prosecutors Office and Yamagami’s lawyers with a proposal to hold the first hearing of his trial in late October, informed sources said. Yamagami, 44, is expected to admit in court that he intended to kill Abe, according to the sources. A total of six pretrial conferences have been held on the case so far, and the seventh is scheduled for May 27.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 7, 2024 Number of comments0
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Cults Disability Japan

Unification Church in Tough Position 2 Yrs after Abe Shooting

As Monday marks the second anniversary of the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Unification Church finds itself in a difficult position as the incident shed light on the religious group’s controversial practices, such as collecting massive donations from its followers.

Since November 2022, the culture ministry has repeatedly exercised its right to have the group respond to its inquiries. And in October last year, the ministry asked Tokyo District Court to issue an order to dissolve the group, alleging violations of the Civil Code.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 20, 2024 1
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Crime Japan Mental Health

Psychiatric exam finds ex-Japan PM Abe shooter mentally fit

A psychiatric evaluation of the man accused of fatally shooting former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has determined him mentally fit to be held criminally responsible for his actions, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.

The defense for Tetsuya Yamagami did not contest the results of the evaluation, which had been conducted at the request of prosecutors, and effectively deferred a request for another evaluation, the sources said.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 12, 2023 Number of comments0
Assassination of Shinzo Abe Crime Japan

Pretrial Hearing for Alleged Abe Killer Cancelled over Suspicious Item

Nara District Court canceled Monday’s pretrial hearing for the suspect of the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, after a suspicious cardboard box arrived at the court in western Japan on the day.

After the box was checked with a metal detector, an official at the court in the city of Nara reported the incident to the police department of Nara Prefecture.