Post by sclcookie on May 30, 2006 11:07:09 GMT -5
Japan's nerve-gas cult guru nears gallows
The Tokyo High Court on Tuesday rejected a 2nd appeal against the death
sentence of a doomsday cult guru convicted over the deadly 1995 nerve-gas
attack on the Tokyo subway.
The decision brought Aum Supreme Truth founder Shoko Asahara closer to the
gallows, more than 10 years after his sect stunned the nation with crimes
based on his apocalyptic visions.
His lawyers still have five days to bring the case to the Supreme Court
which, however, examines appeals only on constitutional violations.
His death sentence would become final if the nation's highest court
rejects the further appeal.
The Tokyo High Court had on March 27 rejected the lawyers' appeal against
Asahara's death sentence. On Tuesday, it rejected an objection the lawyers
filed against the decision, a court spokesperson said.
"A separate bench upheld the court's rejection of the earlier appeal as
appropriate," she said.
The Tokyo District Court sentenced Asahara (51) to death in February 2004
for the subway attack, the murder of an anti-Aum lawyer and his family,
and other crimes that claimed a total of 27 lives.
Asahara's lawyers missed an August 2005 deadline to submit their arguments
against the sentence. They explained in March that they could not talk to
the guru as he only mumbled nonsense.
But the Tokyo High Court at that time rejected the defence's belated
document, presenting a doctor's analysis that Asahara was faking mental
illness.
Japan has been sentencing more inmates to death but carrying out fewer
executions. Only one person was hanged last year and none so far this
year.
Asahara, a nearly blind former acupuncturist whose real name is Chizuo
Matsumoto, preached a mix of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and predicted an
apocalyptic war with the establishment.
He allegedly ordered his supporters to release Nazi-invented sarin gas on
crowded trains at rush hour on March 20 1995 to pre-empt police raids on
the cult. Twelve people died and thousands were injured.
He was arrested at his commune near Mount Fuji 2 months later.
(source: Agence France Presse)
The Tokyo High Court on Tuesday rejected a 2nd appeal against the death
sentence of a doomsday cult guru convicted over the deadly 1995 nerve-gas
attack on the Tokyo subway.
The decision brought Aum Supreme Truth founder Shoko Asahara closer to the
gallows, more than 10 years after his sect stunned the nation with crimes
based on his apocalyptic visions.
His lawyers still have five days to bring the case to the Supreme Court
which, however, examines appeals only on constitutional violations.
His death sentence would become final if the nation's highest court
rejects the further appeal.
The Tokyo High Court had on March 27 rejected the lawyers' appeal against
Asahara's death sentence. On Tuesday, it rejected an objection the lawyers
filed against the decision, a court spokesperson said.
"A separate bench upheld the court's rejection of the earlier appeal as
appropriate," she said.
The Tokyo District Court sentenced Asahara (51) to death in February 2004
for the subway attack, the murder of an anti-Aum lawyer and his family,
and other crimes that claimed a total of 27 lives.
Asahara's lawyers missed an August 2005 deadline to submit their arguments
against the sentence. They explained in March that they could not talk to
the guru as he only mumbled nonsense.
But the Tokyo High Court at that time rejected the defence's belated
document, presenting a doctor's analysis that Asahara was faking mental
illness.
Japan has been sentencing more inmates to death but carrying out fewer
executions. Only one person was hanged last year and none so far this
year.
Asahara, a nearly blind former acupuncturist whose real name is Chizuo
Matsumoto, preached a mix of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and predicted an
apocalyptic war with the establishment.
He allegedly ordered his supporters to release Nazi-invented sarin gas on
crowded trains at rush hour on March 20 1995 to pre-empt police raids on
the cult. Twelve people died and thousands were injured.
He was arrested at his commune near Mount Fuji 2 months later.
(source: Agence France Presse)