Accused Assassin Pleads Guilty to Murder of Former Japan PM Abe

Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, pleaded guilty to murder during his trial in Nara, Japan. Yamagami admitted to using a homemade gun to shoot Abe during an election campaign speech. His defense plans to argue that his actions were influenced by the harm his family suffered due to the controversial Unification Church, while the prosecution emphasizes the severity of the crime itself. The trial, which began more than three years after the assassination, aims to determine Yamagami's punishment, with a verdict expected in January 2026. Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, died from blood loss caused by gunshot injuries to major arteries. The case remains a significant moment in Japanese political history and has drawn global attention due to the nature of the crime and its implications.