A Japanese court has indicted a suspect in the slaying of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
In July of last year, Japan’s longest-serving leader was shot while speaking at a campaign rally. His murder caused shockwaves throughout the country, where firearms are strictly regulated.
Tetsuya Yamagami, age 42, was also charged with firearms control violation.
After a six-month medical assessment, Yamagami proved his fitness to stand trial, according to the prosecution. He is currently back in jail.
On 8 July of last year, Japan’s longest-serving leader was shot at close range while delivering a campaign address at a train station in the western city of Nara.
Yamagami was arrested on the spot and examined by a psychiatrist for several months.
Mr. Abe, 67 years old, sustained two severe neck wounds and was evacuated to the hospital. Following the incident, he was pronounced dead five and a half hours later.
The gunman admitted to shooting Mr. Abe with a weapon he fashioned from metal and wood, according to the police.
Security deficiencies
The killing of the former leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party caused shockwaves throughout the nation, which has stringent gun control regulations.
Japan’s police chief announced his resignation after authorities admitted to security lapses following his death.
Over 4,000 individuals, including foreign leaders, attended Mr. Abe’s official burial in September of last year.
Mr. Abe’s death represented the first assassination of a sitting or former Japanese leader since a coup attempt in 1936, when many officials, including two former prime ministers, were murdered.
Many Japanese conservatives admired the former prime minister for his ‘Abenomics’ economic program of vigorous monetary easing and fiscal stimulus.
Critics, noting his constant efforts to increase defense spending, labeled his policies as pro-war.
