KYOTO: Japanese public prosecutors on Thursday sought the death penalty for Shinji Aoba, the suspect in a deadly arson attack on a Kyoto Animation Co. studio in 2019.

“This is an unprecedented mass arson murder case,” the prosecution said during the 22nd hearing of the lay judge trial of Aoba at Kyoto District Court.

Aoba, 45, has admitted murder and other charges against him. The focus of the trial was on whether he was mentally competent to take criminal responsibility for the arson attack that left 36 people dead and 32 others injured.

The trial will be concluded after the final arguments by the defense side later on Thursday. The ruling will be handed down on Jan. 25 next year.

JIJI Press