Kyoto Animation arson case trial finalizes, defense lawyer's building fire safety remarks spark public outrage

The much-watched trial of the Kyoto Animation arson case has entered its final stage. The perpetrator Shinji Aoba will be sentenced on December 7. The trial has recently entered a white-hot stage, and the "indifference" of the defense and certain "defense opinions" have aroused public anger.

Shinji Aoba, the suspect in the Kyoto Animation incident, deliberately set fire to the Kyoto Animation headquarters in July 2019, killing 36 people and injuring 32 people, including himself. After more than four years of treatment, Shinji Aoba officially entered the trial stage in September this year.

In order to mitigate the suspect’s guilt, the defense not only used the strongest argument that the suspect had mental problems, but also raised issues regarding fire safety in the building where the crime occurred, which caused great indignation among the victims’ families and the public.

The prosecution listed evidence to prove that the building complied with fire regulations. The local fire chief witness invited to the scene also testified that there was no experience to prove that the current fire regulations could deal with "deliberate gasoline spilling and arson."

In addition, some of the victims' family members who were allowed to attend the trial were extremely dissatisfied with the defense lawyers, saying that they were too indifferent and disrespectful of the victims. This trial was the strongest example of the conflict between law and human feelings.