Prior To Trial, Shinzo Abe's Killer Was Checked For Mental Condition

JAKARTA - The killer of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Tetsuya Yamagami will have his mental condition checked. This was done to determine whether Yamagami was worthy of being brought to trial.

Quoted from The Asahi Shimbun, Monday, July 25, the Nara District Court gave approval to the Prosecutor on July 22. Prosecutors will evaluate Yamagami until November 29.

Yamagami, who is 41 years old, will be transferred to the hospital for a checkup.

The doctor will evaluate his history and check for mental disorders.

The prosecutor will determine his mental fitness based on the results of the examination.

Yamagami's mental state at the time of the attack, is expected to be one of the points of contention in the trial of the lay judges. Prosecutors will use the results of the examination to determine whether Yamagami is mentally competent to indict.

Tomoyuki Mizuno, a professor of criminal law at Hosei University Law School and a former judge, believes Yamagami is mentally good. Moreover, Yamagami can meticulously plan crimes, build and test homemade weapons and check Abe's campaign schedule.

“The attack was carried out in a very rational and organized manner with a strong obsession,” said Mizuno.