Yamagami Pleads Guilty to Murder of Former PM Abe

Nara, Oct. 28 (Jiji Press)–Tetsuya Yamagami on Tuesday pleaded guilty to murdering former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the western Japan city of Nara about three years ago. During the first hearing of his trial at Nara District Court, the 45-year-old defendant said that the charges against him were “all true.” According to the indictment, Yamagami fired a homemade gun twice at Abe, who was delivering a stump speech on July 8, 2022, ahead of a House of Councillors election. The former prime minister died from blood loss due to damage to his right and left subclavian arteries. Yamagami has suggested that he had a grudge against the controversial Unification Church religious group after his mother went bankrupt due to large donations she made to the group, and that he believed Abe had ties with the group, according to informed sources. Before the day’s court hearing began in the early afternoon, more than 700 people lined up outside the court to watch the high-profile trial. The trial is scheduled to conclude on Dec. 18, and the court is expected to hand down a ruling on Jan. 21, 2026. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]