NARA: The suspect of the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister ABE Shinzo a year ago is concerned about appearing in court, after the arrival of a suspicious box led to the cancellation of a pretrial hearing he was set to attend last month, according to his lawyers.

The lawyers quoted Tetsuya Yamagami, 42, as saying that the fuss was caused by his planned attendance at the hearing at Nara District Court on June 12, so he will think carefully next time.

Yamagami, who has been indicted on murder and other charges, is currently held at the Osaka Detention House in the western city of Osaka.

According to his lawyers, he reads newspapers and magazines every day, as well as many philosophy, history and other books, and asks his lawyers for more books when they meet.

Yamagami is mainly visited by his lawyers, but many letters to him are sent to the detention center.

At the beginning of his detention, he appeared fatigued and tense all over his body, but he now seems calm and has no major health issues other than pain in his knees due to being in a small cell.

Yamagami has told investigators that he had a grudge against the controversial religious group known as the Unification Church, in which his mother believed, and that he targeted Abe because he thought the former prime minister had ties to the group.

Recently, Yamagami has been emotionally stable and does not seem eager to make a plea to society, the lawyers said.

According to Yamagami’s uncle, he has expressed a desire to get some fresh air.

The uncle said donations continue to be made for Yamagami after several million yen were delivered while he was undergoing a psychiatric examination.

His mother is still faithful to the Unification Church, the uncle added.

JIJI Press