Gunman who killed Japan former PM Shinzo Abe appeals life sentence

The man convicted of fatally shooting former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 has appealed his life sentence, according to reports published on Wednesday. Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, was found guilty at the Nara District Court two weeks ago for using a homemade firearm to kill Abe during an outdoor campaign speech.

Major Japanese outlets, including Kyodo News, Mainichi Shimbun, Jiji Press and broadcaster MBS reported that his lawyers submitted the appeal on Wednesday. Defence representatives were not immediately reachable for confirmation.

Shooting prompted unprecedented national reckoning

Abe’s killing shocked Japan, a country with extremely low levels of gun violence, and triggered widespread examination of links between senior conservative lawmakers and the Unification Church, a group long accused by critics of coercive fundraising.

The shooting also prompted debate over political security protocols after the former leader was attacked at close range during a public event.

Yamagami’s case drew pockets of public sympathy as his defence team argued that his actions were driven by anger over his mother’s large donations to the Unification Church, which they said had pushed the family into bankruptcy.

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Abe had previously spoken at events organised by affiliated groups, and the sect had offered electoral support to his Liberal Democratic Party.