Japanese man sentenced to death in anime arson trial — World — Headline News – News of Nigeria and the world

A Japanese man convicted of an arson attack that killed 36 people at an anime studio in 2019 was sentenced to death on Thursday.

The fire that struck Kyoto Animation's studios four and a half years ago became Japan's worst crime in decades and stunned the anime industry and its fans around the world.

According to survivors, on the morning of July 18, 2019, Shinji Aoba, now 45, broke into the building, doused the first floor with gasoline, set it on fire and shouted “die!”

Presiding Judge Keisuke Masuda said in his ruling, “Dousing a large amount of gasoline and setting a person on fire is extremely lethal, and self-immolation is a truly cruel and inhumane act.''

The victim “died in agony as the studio was instantly engulfed in fire and smoke, turning into a hell,” he said.

Many of the dead were young people, including a 21-year-old woman.

A large number of victims were found on the spiral staircase leading to the roof, suggesting they were overwhelmed in a desperate attempt to escape.

“There were people who jumped from the second floor… but the fire was so intense that we couldn't rush to help them,” one woman told local media at the time.

More than 30 other people were injured, and fire officials called the incident “unprecedented” and said it was “extremely difficult” to rescue those trapped inside.

– death row inmate –
Japan is one of the few developed countries that has the death penalty, and public opinion polls show that public support for the death penalty is high. As of December, 107 people were on death row.

Aoba was arrested near the scene and charged with five charges, including murder, attempted murder, and arson, and prosecutors sought the death penalty.

His lawyer argued that he was not guilty because he suffered from a “mental disorder,” but the judge rejected this claim.

Prosecutors said Aoba believed the studio known to fans as “KyoAni” stole his ideas, a claim the company denied.

Aoba herself suffered burns to 90% of her body, but it was not until several weeks after the fire that she regained consciousness and was able to speak. He reportedly underwent 12 surgeries due to the injury.

– “Stay committed” –
Founded by a married couple in 1981, KyoAni is well-known to anime fans for producing popular TV series such as The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and K-ON!

After the attack, shock and sadness spread not only in Japan but around the world, with Apple CEO Tim Cook expressing his support in a tweet, and a crowdfunding campaign raising $2.4 million to support the company.

President Hideaki Hatta welcomed the ruling on Thursday, but said, “My heart breaks for all the employees who died.''

Local media reported that in a courtroom filled with victims' families, one person wept and covered his eyes as the judge spoke.

“After the attack, a significant number of young people joined our studio. We will continue to value our workers and strive to help each person reach their full potential,” Hatta said. he said.

Dozens of Kyoto Animation fans braved the snow to stand outside the courthouse, but one of them, Renji Kiriyama, 27, recalled hearing about the fire on his car radio.

“There have been a lot of reports about this incident, so I hope that more people will know about KyoAni.This will spread the name of KyoAni and make KyoAni's works more popular. “I would be happy if it would be delivered to Japan and KyoAni's name would become known to more people,” he told AFP.

Kentaro Hatanaka, another fan, said, “I hope this ruling will alleviate the burden and suffering of the bereaved family, even just a little.''

“I hope KyoAni can bring animation back to the world as vibrant as it was before this incident happened,” he said.

Source: guardian.ng