The trial of the Kyoto Animation arson case has entered its final stage and the perpetrator may be sentenced to death on December 7

After a long court trial of 143 days, the court announced today on November 27 that the trial of the Kyoto Animation arson case has entered its final stage. In this final trial stage, the criminal Shinji Aoba will be finally sentenced on December 7, and the prosecution is very likely to request the death penalty.

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.

The trial of the case is now nearly complete. The biggest focus of the fierce battle between the prosecution and the defense is whether Shinji Aoba's mental state at the time of the incident affected his motive for committing the crime, which is also the key factor in ultimately determining Aoba's fate.

The defense has always emphasized and reminded the court that it is necessary to "make the final judgment with caution" because the prosecution is very likely to ask for the death penalty. The defense has always believed that Shinji Aoba's abnormal mental state at the time of the crime led to his criminal behavior.