NOTE: WITH RESPECT FOR THE VICTIMS, FAMILIES, AND WORKERS AFFECTED BY THE KYOTO ANIMATION ARSON. THE NAME OF THE ARSONIST WILL NOT BE LISTED.
The prosecutors overseeing the upcoming Kyoto Animation Arson trial held a conference for the families of the victims on June 10th, revealing the timeline of the trial over the next seven months, how it will flow, and that the prosecutors will focus on if the suspect can take criminal responsibility.
The suspect was charged in December 2020 with arson, breaking, and entering, violating the firearms and sword control law, and the mass murder of 36 people, the largest mass murder in Japan since the Showa Era, including the injury of 32 other victims in the Kyoto Animation Arson in 2019.
According to the prosecutors, the trial will focus on the extent of the suspect’s criminal liability during the day’s events based on the psychiatric evaluations run before the trial and how the suspect answers questions during the cross-examination period. According to news companies such as The Mainichi Shimbun and The Sankei News, the defense is understood to argue for a reduced sentence or acquittal if found guilty, due to the suspect’s supposed mental state during the events.
Also, NHK has mentioned that the first aspect of the trial will be held on September 5th with an arraignment, where the suspect will be read the charges against him and asked if he pleads guilty or not guilty to those charges. Questioning will begin the next day, with the prosecution taking the lead on the questioning. Family members of those who were lost will also get the chance to ask the suspect questions via Japan’s victim participation system. Alongside being able to ask questions directly to the suspect, family members will have preferential treatment for seating in the courtroom.
From late September to October, witnesses will take the stand for the prosecution to give testimonies. These include witnesses on the scene, Kyoto City Firefighters, and Kyoto Animation Studio President Hideaki Hatta. The two doctors who performed the psychiatric evaluations will also testify in late October.
The prosecution and defense did their evaluations before the court case to see if the suspect was fit to sit trial due to his extensive injuries and his supposed mental state.
Interim statements and arguments from both sides will be presented in early November, while the rest of the month will be the judge, and lay judges (members of the public who assist the judges in determining the guilt) deliberate the suspect’s degree of accountability and present their conclusion.
On December 7th, the prosecution’s final argument and sentencing requests will be heard alongside the defense’s final statement.
As previously mentioned, the final verdict and punishment will be handed down on January 25th, 2024, with a newly confirmed time of around 10:30 am JST.
Source: NHK, The Mainichi Shimbun (1,2), The Sankei News
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