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Aum guru nears gallows
30/05/2006 22:52 - (SA)
Tokyo - The Tokyo high court on Tuesday rejected a second 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 said they expected to bring the case to the supreme court which, however, examines appeals only on constitutional violations or rulings that contradict precedents.
His death sentence would become final if the nation's highest court rejects the further appeal.
"I appreciate the court decision. As the trial has been taking a long time, I hope the final decision will be made as soon as possible," Shizue Takahashi, who lost her husband in the subway attack, told reporters.
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. Mumbled 'nonsense'
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.
In the latest judgment, the court ruled that Asahara may simply be suffering from claustrophobia in prison.
"There remains the option of holding the defendant's trial when his mental state is completely normal from that of a prison syndrome," Judge Isamu Shiraki said.
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. Sarin attack
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 two months later.
Thirteen former Aum members have been sentenced to death, but none has been hanged as the legal process continues. Only one cult member, Kazuaki Okazaki, has lost his final appeal against execution.
The sect changed its name in early 2000 to Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, deposed Asahara as its leader and apologised for past wrongdoing. But investigators say Aum members still follow Asahara's teachings.
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