National News

Aum death-row trio to take stand in fugitive's trial

音声ダウンロード

Three Aum Shinrikyo members on death row are to be questioned in open court in the trial of Makoto Hirata, who is accused of helping to kidnap a notary public who was later killed by the doomsday cult, the Tokyo District Court announced June 17.

Questioning death-row inmates as witnesses is extremely rare, and this will be the first time in a lay judge trial, the court said.

The three inmates are Yoshihiro Inoue, 43, Tomomasa Nakagawa, 50, and Yasuo Koike, 55.

Hirata turned himself in on Dec. 31, 2011, after 17 years on the lam. (Kyodo)

逃亡していたオウム真理教幹部の裁判で、死刑囚3人が公開の法廷へ

公証役場事務長拉致事件のオウム真理教元幹部平田信被告の公判前整理手続きで、東京地裁は井上嘉浩元幹部ら死刑囚３人の証人尋問を公開の法廷で実施すると決めた。

The Japan Times ST: June 28, 2013