Guilty Plea in Shinzo Abe Assassination Case: Trial Begins

In a significant development, the man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pleaded guilty as his trial began three years following the shocking incident. Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, admitted to the premeditated killing of Abe, Japan's longest-serving postwar leader, using a homemade gun during a campaign event in Nara, reported Kyodo News.

The Nara District Court announced multiple hearings through December, with a verdict expected on January 21. Investigations revealed that Yamagami harbored a grudge against the Unification Church, blaming it for personal financial woes. His mother had reportedly donated 100 million yen to the church, leaving the family in dire financial straits.

Public interest in the trial is unprecedented, with hundreds queuing outside the courthouse for limited public seating. Yamagami, who was indicted for murder and multiple other charges, underwent a psychiatric evaluation, confirming his fitness for trial. Among expected witnesses are Yamagami's mother, a religious scholar, and a lawmaker who witnessed the assassination, which has exposed controversial political-religious ties in Japan.