Man who attacked Japan's ex-PM Kishida sentenced to 10 years
What's the story
Ryuji Kimura, a 25-year-old Japanese man, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to kill former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The verdict was delivered by the Wakayama District Court on Wednesday.
The attack occurred during a campaign event in Wakayama on April 15, 2023. Kimura had thrown a homemade pipe bomb toward Kishida as he addressed the crowd at Saikazaki fishing port.
Attack aftermath
Kimura's attack injures 2, Kishida remains unscathed
The explosion left two people at the event with minor injuries. However, Kishida escaped unscathed.
Kimura was arrested immediately after he attacked the former prime minister. He was charged with attempted murder and violations of explosives and weapons laws, local media reports said.
During the early stages of his trial in early February, Kimura had pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder. He defended himself by saying that he "didn't intend to kill Kishida."
Trial proceedings
Kimura pleads not guilty, court remains silent on conviction
Prosecutors had sought a 15-year prison sentence, claiming Kimura tested the explosive device a month before the attack to evaluate how powerful it was.
They argued that Kimura "understood (the explosive device's) power" when he tossed it during the event, which was attended by 158 spectators and 15 aides, and it fell about a meter away from Kishida.
This "demonstrated a clear intent to harm," they added.
Defense
Kimura maintained he had no intent to harm anyone
The defense, which argued that the prison sentence for bodily harm should be three years, argued that the defendant did not believe the device was lethal and expected victims to escape in time.
Kimura's lawyers argued that the injuries were only sustained because he was unexpectedly subdued, resulting in a gathering around him.
Throughout the trial, Kimura maintained that he had no intent to harm anyone.
Prior incident
Assassination of former PM Abe precedes Kimura's attack
Per reports, Kishida wanted to run in an Upper House election, but he claimed he was unfairly blocked from running as a candidate by an age requirement.
Notably, Kimura's attack on Kishida comes less than a year after another former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, was assassinated.
Abe was shot dead in July 2022 while campaigning for an Upper House election.