Yamagami's Abe assassination trial opens at Nara District Court

The trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of fatally shooting former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a campaign speech in July 2022, opened on Tuesday at the Nara District Court, nearly three years after the assassination stunned Japan. Yamagami, 45, told the court, "Everything is true," admitting to the killing while disputing aspects of the indictment related to arms control offences, court officials said.

Prosecutors charge Yamagami with murder and violations of firearms and ordnance laws after he allegedly fired two shots from a homemade gun at Abe outside a train station in Nara on July 8, 2022, one of which proved fatal. He was arrested at the scene. Investigators say Yamagami told them he targeted Abe because of the late premier's perceived ties to the Unification Church and because his family suffered financial ruin after his mother made large donations to the group, reportedly about 100 million yen, roughly US$650,000.

Yamagami underwent an extended psychiatric evaluation after his arrest and was found mentally fit to be held criminally responsible, prosecutors said. His defence team has signalled it will likely seek leniency by presenting background evidence of...