Kyoto Animation Arsonist Given Death Penalty

The Kyoto District Court sentenced Shinji Aoba, the arsonist who set fire to Kyoto Animation Studio 1 and killed 36 people, to death. The judge believed that Aoba was of sound mind when he went through with the attack. [Thanks, NHK!]

As a quick refresher about the case, the Kyoto Animation arson attack took place on July 18, 2019. Aoba set fire to the company’s Studio 1 building, and even used gasoline to make the fire faster and deadlier. As a result, he killed 36 people and injured 34. Aoba said that he believed Kyoto Animation plagiarized a novel that he’d submitted for a contest.

The defense claimed that Aoba was not of sound mind at the time of the attack, thus he cannot be found criminally responsible for his actions. However, the judge stated that he believed Aoba was completely sane. He noted that Aoba had a clear motive, made a conscious decision to blame Kyoto Animation, went out to buy the gasoline, and then set fire to the studio. Aoba also knew the difference between right and wrong.

The judge also stated that 36 deaths is a severe loss of life. He said that it was impossible to describe the hell that the victims went through as they attempted to escape the building, only to succumb to the flames, the high heat, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Delusions did not affect Aoba at all in his decision-making. As for Aoba, he was staring at the ground as the judge gave him his sentence. The families of the deceased were staring at the ground as well, or looking like they were holding back tears.

The mother of Naomi Ishida has made a statement about the sentencing. Ishida had been an animator at Kyoto Animation who was 49 at the time of her death. Ishida’s mother says, “Even if he receives the death penalty, my daughter won’t come back. I still feel empty on the inside but I have to accept the results, as this is the most serious punishment he can be given. It’s a relief to see him get the death penalty, even if I figured that would be the sentence. I hope that he accepts it and does not try to make an appeal.”

The Kyoto District Court has given the Kyoto Animation arsonist, Shinji Aoba, the death penalty.