Shoko Asahara, the founder of the AUM Shinrikyo cult was sentenced to death in the Tokyo District Court Friday after being convicted on 13 charges that claimed the lives of 27 victims including sarin attacks on Tokyo subway trains.
"The crimes were cruel and inhuman, and his responsibility as the mastermind behind all the cases is extremely grave. He deserves the maximum punishment," Presiding Judge Shoji Ogawa said as he handed down the ruling that has drawn worldwide attention.
"He had dreams of being delivered from earth's bonds and attempted to rule Japan as a king under the pretext of salvaging people. He had a selfish dogma of killing those who he thought were obstructing his bid, and armed his cult," the judge said. "He threw people in Japan and overseas into terror. It was an unprecedentedly brutal and serious crime."
The presiding judge also bitterly criticized the AUM guru for his refusal to offer an apology. "It's impossible to describe the feelings of the victims of his crime. However, the defendant has failed to express an apology, and placed the blame on his followers."
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20040227p2a00m0dm006004c.html
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