Shinzō Abe’s shooter pleads guilty

A man charged for assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 pleaded guilty Tuesday, in his first court hearing since the fatal shooting that shocked the nation and drew attention to Unification Church and its connection to political leaders, local media reported.

- INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE

During the hearing at the Nara District Court, Tetsuya Yamagami said, "It is true. There is no doubt that I did it." Yamagami (45) is accused of killing Abe with a handmade firearm during an election stump speech in Japan's Nara on July 8, 2022.

The defence has insisted that the personality and behaviour of the accused were shaped by an upbringing marked by religious abuse. The defence counsel has insisted that Yamagami's mother, a follower of the Unification Church, donat-

ed 100 million yen to the group. She is among 12 witnesses who will testify before the court's ruling on January 21.