Sep 5, 2023

2019 Kyoto Animation Arson Case, 36 Dead, Suspect Admits to Setting Fire

A Japanese man admitted in a Kyoto courtroom Tuesday that he started a fire that killed 36 people in Kyoto Animation in 2019.

Now, defense lawyers for Shinji Aoba, 45, are arguing for acquittal or a reduced sentence, claiming he was mentally unstable at the time.

Attack According to various Japanese news media reports, Aoba broke into Kyoto Animation's Studio 1 building on July 18, 2019. Once inside, he sprayed gasoline on the employees and their workbenches before setting them on fire and shouting "Die." Aoba himself was still inside the building at the time and suffered life-threatening burns in the fire. As a result, 36 people died and 32 were injured, some seriously.

Charges Aoba was charged with five crimes, including murder, attempted murder, and arson.

Why did Aoba attack the studio - Aoba believed the studio had stolen his work. Prior to the crime, Aoba had submitted a novel to a contest run by the studio and believed that the studio had stolen ideas from the book. According to the police who arrested Aoba near the studio on the day of the incident, Aoba told them as much.

Aoba's Defense Argument - The defense argues that Aoba was suffering from delusions at the time of the crime and should not be held fully responsible for his actions that day. If Aoba is convicted, the court is asked to grant him a reduced sentence due to his "diminished state of mind" at the time of the crime.

Appearing in court Tuesday in a wheelchair and wearing a face mask, Aoba said:

I did [what was accused]. That was the only way (to have my story heard) at the time. I had no idea that so many people would die. Looking back, I went too far.

Prosecutors say - When Aoba was indicted in December 2020, prosecutors conducted a psychiatric evaluation and concluded that he was competent to stand trial and could be held criminally responsible. On Tuesday, prosecutors said Aoba committed the crime after becoming convinced that the studio's director had stolen his ideas. They also suggested that the Kyoto Animation fire was not Aoba's first planned attack. Aoba had previously gone to his hometown's Omiya Station with six knives to commit mass murder, but eventually abandoned the idea, they said.

When will the trial's verdict be handed down - Tuesday's hearing is the first of 24 sessions planned for the trial, with sentencing scheduled for January 25, 2024.