'Vile and vicious': Assassin of former Japanese Premier Abe sentenced to life in prison

Prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, who admitted to murdering Abe in 2022 with a handmade firearm during a campaign speech in the western Japanese city of Nara, Kyodo News reported.

He was found guilty of murder, as well as of violating the gun-discharge provisions of a firearms law.

Yamagami said he held a grudge against the Unification Church, which Abe was connected to, over the financial ruin his family suffered due to his mother's massive donations to the group.

During the trial, his defense counsel argued that his prison term should not exceed 20 years, claiming victimization by the religious group and his "tragic" upbringing as factors that motivated him to kill Abe.

His lawyers also argued that Yamagami's homemade firearm was not covered by the law at the time of the incident.

The assassination prompted a government probe into the church’s solicitation of financially ruinous donations from members, ultimately leading to its dissolution and legislation against such practices.

Abe, who was 67 years old when he died, was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, having served two terms, in 2006–2007 and 2012–2020.