Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 17, 2006 23:36:19 GMT -5
Colleagues of lawyer murdered by AUM express anger at leader Asahara's
silence
Colleagues of anti-AUM Shinrikyo lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto, who, along with
his family, was murdered by cultists, have expressed anger and displeasure
at cult founder Shoko Asahara for refusing to talk about the incident
during his trial.
"We are deeply disappointed and angry at him for refusing to say anything
about the incident during his trial and withdrawing into his own world,"
the colleagues said in a statement they released at a news conference.
Lawyers belonging to Yokohama legal firm of which Sakamoto was a member
held the news conference Friday night, after the Supreme Court dismissed
an appeal filed by Asahara against the death sentence he was given for
masterminding crimes including the murder of Sakamoto and his family.
"I think he deserves the death penalty," said lawyer Shuichi Kojima, who
launched a campaign to rescue the Sakamotos immediately after they went
missing in 1989. "I feel like taking him to the murder scene and
interrogating him over the incident myself, but it's impossible. There's
nothing I can expect from him."
He also quoted Sakamoto's mother, Sachiyo, as telling him that she wants
to quietly remember the victims.
On the order of Asahara, AUM members murdered Sakamoto, 33, who was
supporting the families of cult followers, his wife, Satoko, 29, and their
1-year-old son Tatsuhiko in November 1989.
(source: Mainichi Daily News, Japan)
silence
Colleagues of anti-AUM Shinrikyo lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto, who, along with
his family, was murdered by cultists, have expressed anger and displeasure
at cult founder Shoko Asahara for refusing to talk about the incident
during his trial.
"We are deeply disappointed and angry at him for refusing to say anything
about the incident during his trial and withdrawing into his own world,"
the colleagues said in a statement they released at a news conference.
Lawyers belonging to Yokohama legal firm of which Sakamoto was a member
held the news conference Friday night, after the Supreme Court dismissed
an appeal filed by Asahara against the death sentence he was given for
masterminding crimes including the murder of Sakamoto and his family.
"I think he deserves the death penalty," said lawyer Shuichi Kojima, who
launched a campaign to rescue the Sakamotos immediately after they went
missing in 1989. "I feel like taking him to the murder scene and
interrogating him over the incident myself, but it's impossible. There's
nothing I can expect from him."
He also quoted Sakamoto's mother, Sachiyo, as telling him that she wants
to quietly remember the victims.
On the order of Asahara, AUM members murdered Sakamoto, 33, who was
supporting the families of cult followers, his wife, Satoko, 29, and their
1-year-old son Tatsuhiko in November 1989.
(source: Mainichi Daily News, Japan)