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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Japan cult boss loses last appeal | Japan cult boss loses last appeal |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Japan's Supreme Court has rejected a final appeal by Aum Shinrikyo cult leader Shoko Asahara, paving the way for his execution, local media said. | Japan's Supreme Court has rejected a final appeal by Aum Shinrikyo cult leader Shoko Asahara, paving the way for his execution, local media said. |
| Asahara was convicted in 2004 of masterminding a 1995 attack to release sarin nerve gas on the Tokyo subway during the morning rush-hour. | Asahara was convicted in 2004 of masterminding a 1995 attack to release sarin nerve gas on the Tokyo subway during the morning rush-hour. |
| Twelve people died and hundreds more were injured in the attack. | |
| Lawyers had appealed on the grounds that Asahara was mentally ill, asking for the case to be suspended. | Lawyers had appealed on the grounds that Asahara was mentally ill, asking for the case to be suspended. |
| The cult leader, a former acupuncturist, was sentenced to death in February 2004 after a trial lasting eight years. | The cult leader, a former acupuncturist, was sentenced to death in February 2004 after a trial lasting eight years. |
| He was also found guilty of other charges including plotting a 1994 gas attack in the central Japanese city of Matsumoto that killed seven people. | He was also found guilty of other charges including plotting a 1994 gas attack in the central Japanese city of Matsumoto that killed seven people. |
| 'Unfit' | 'Unfit' |
| During his trial, he mumbled incoherently and made unexplained gestures. | During his trial, he mumbled incoherently and made unexplained gestures. |
| SHOKO ASAHARA 1955 - Born in Yatsushiro, real name Chizuo Matsumoto1987 - Starts Aum Shinrikyo1994 - First sarin attack1995 - Tokyo subway attack1996 - Goes on trial2004 - Trial ends Profile of Shoko Asahara A commute like no other | SHOKO ASAHARA 1955 - Born in Yatsushiro, real name Chizuo Matsumoto1987 - Starts Aum Shinrikyo1994 - First sarin attack1995 - Tokyo subway attack1996 - Goes on trial2004 - Trial ends Profile of Shoko Asahara A commute like no other |
| His lawyers say he has become mentally ill as a result of his detention and have tried to have legal proceedings against him suspended. | His lawyers say he has become mentally ill as a result of his detention and have tried to have legal proceedings against him suspended. |
| But in March a Tokyo court rejected an appeal, filed on mental health grounds, after Asahara's lawyers missed an application deadline. | But in March a Tokyo court rejected an appeal, filed on mental health grounds, after Asahara's lawyers missed an application deadline. |
| This most recent action, a special motion, had challenged the March decision. | This most recent action, a special motion, had challenged the March decision. |
| "Effective today, the court dismisses the special appeal of this case," a Supreme Court spokeswoman said. | "Effective today, the court dismisses the special appeal of this case," a Supreme Court spokeswoman said. |
| Local media said that the final appeal avenue against Asahara's sentence, execution by hanging, was now closed. | Local media said that the final appeal avenue against Asahara's sentence, execution by hanging, was now closed. |
| Renounced | Renounced |
| Altogether, 12 cult members have been sentenced to death, but none of the sentences have yet been carried out. | Altogether, 12 cult members have been sentenced to death, but none of the sentences have yet been carried out. |
| Last month, a court upheld the death sentence for the cult's alleged second in command, a chemist who oversaw the development of the nerve gas. | Last month, a court upheld the death sentence for the cult's alleged second in command, a chemist who oversaw the development of the nerve gas. |
| Before the attacks, Aum Shinrikyo had thousands of members, many of them educated and wealthy, who embraced Asahara's violent apocalyptic teachings. | Before the attacks, Aum Shinrikyo had thousands of members, many of them educated and wealthy, who embraced Asahara's violent apocalyptic teachings. |
| The cult changed its name to Aleph in 2000 and has renounced violence, but is still heavily monitored by police. | The cult changed its name to Aleph in 2000 and has renounced violence, but is still heavily monitored by police. |