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Death for Japan cult chemist
A Japanese chemist who oversaw the development of nerve gas used in a 1995 attack on the Tokyo subway has been sentenced to death. Masami Tsuchiya, 39, became the 11th member of the Aum Shinrikyo cult that carried out the attack to be sentenced to death. Prosecutors said he was the second most important person behind the attack, after the cultâs leader Shoko Asahara. The verdict on Mr Asaharaâs seven-year trial is expected next month. Tsuchiya was enrolled on a doctorate programme in chemistry at Tsukuba University when he became involved with Aum, according to Kyodo news agency. He was charged with murder and attempted murder in the subway gassing and other attacks. He was accused of heading the cultâs drive to develop chemical weapons including VX, mustard and sarin gases. Sarin was used in the March 1995 attack, which killed 12 people and left 5,000 people injured. Tsuchiya also produced sarin gas for a July 1994 attack on a residential area in the central Japanese city of Matsumoto which killed seven people and injured 144 others, presiding judge Satoru Hattori said. About time, they hang them in Japa by the way. Posted by: Steve 2004-01-30 |
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