Crime & Justice

Abe assassin’s detention extended for psychiatric examination

Tokyo, Nov 17 (EFE).- A Japanese court on Thursday extended the detention of the suspected assassin of former prime minister Shinzo Abe for more than two months.

The court allowed extending the detention period of Tetsuya Yamagami, 42, until Feb.6, 2023, for a psychiatric test.

The prosecution said his custody period was to end on Nov.29, according to the public broadcaster NHK.

The prosecution the extension was needed for more investigation.

Yamagami, a former military officer, fatally shot Abe on July 8 with a homemade gun during an election rally.

The former prime minister died hours later due to hemorrhages caused by the bullets.

The detainee is undergoing a psychiatric examination to determine if he was in complete control of his mental capabilities and could be criminally responsible for the assassination.

According to article 39 of the Japanese Penal Code, if it is determined that the perpetrator of a crime was not of full mental abilities, he can receive a reduced sentence.

If such actions were due to insanity or alienation, “they are not subject to punishment”.

Yamagami’s mental analysis is expected to be one of the centerpieces of the trial.

Yamagami’s defense could still request an external evaluation after the indictment, which could delay his prosecution.

He reportedly committed the crime out of a grudge toward the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, also known as the Unification Church.

The police believe that Yamagami resented the organization because he thought it bankrupted his mother and led to divisions in the family.

He thought Abe had links to the organization.

The detainee has told the investigators that her mother made significant donations to the group years ago that would have led her to bankruptcy and disrupted her family. EFE

mra/ssk

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