Post by Tommen_Saperstein on Sept 5, 2023 19:45:56 GMT
... that killed 36 people. I remember hearing about this story and being utterly shocked at the scope of the death and damage. The entire studio was damaged including most of the work and all their computers, and many of the staff were killed (mostly from smoke inhalation - structure fires are fucking terrifying). It was one of the deadliest massacres in Japan since the end of World War II. 
the trial was set for today Sept 5th and the suspect hours ago plead guilty to starting the blaze and killing all those people. Verdict to be announced Jan 25th of next year.
from the BBC
the trial was set for today Sept 5th and the suspect hours ago plead guilty to starting the blaze and killing all those people. Verdict to be announced Jan 25th of next year.
from the BBC
The Kyoto Animation studio blaze on 18 July 2019 was one of Japan's worst-ever murder cases.
Many of those killed were young animators trapped on the upper floor, and another 32 people were injured.
While prosecutors are likely to seek the death penalty, Shinji Aoba's defence lawyers are seeking an acquittal, citing mental incompetence.
His motives are unclear but reports say Aoba accused Kyoto Animation of stealing his work, which the studio has denied.
In 2019, Japan's then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the attack as "too appalling for words".
Aoba, 45, who nearly died from burns he himself sustained, faces five charges including murder, attempted murder and arson.
He is accused of breaking into the studio, spreading petrol around the ground floor and setting it alight before reportedly shouting "Drop dead".
"I felt I had no other option but to do what I did," said Shinji Aoba, who appeared in the Kyoto District Court in a wheelchair on Tuesday. "I didn't think so many people would die and now I think I went too far."
Many of those killed were young animators trapped on the upper floor, and another 32 people were injured.
While prosecutors are likely to seek the death penalty, Shinji Aoba's defence lawyers are seeking an acquittal, citing mental incompetence.
His motives are unclear but reports say Aoba accused Kyoto Animation of stealing his work, which the studio has denied.
In 2019, Japan's then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the attack as "too appalling for words".
Aoba, 45, who nearly died from burns he himself sustained, faces five charges including murder, attempted murder and arson.
He is accused of breaking into the studio, spreading petrol around the ground floor and setting it alight before reportedly shouting "Drop dead".
"I felt I had no other option but to do what I did," said Shinji Aoba, who appeared in the Kyoto District Court in a wheelchair on Tuesday. "I didn't think so many people would die and now I think I went too far."
