Suspect in Japan anime studio fire charged with murder

Japanese prosecutors formally filed murder charges Wednesday against a suspect in a dely fire at a Kyoto anime studio last year, after it was determined that he has recovered eugh from his own severe burns and is mentally fit to stand trial.

Police in sourn city of Kyoto did t arrest Shinji Aoba, 42, on murder and arson allegations until late May, 10 months after obtaining a warrant, because y h to wait for him to recover. Authorities also carried out a mental evaluation of Aoba and concluded that he is capable of taking criminal responsibility.

Kyoto District Public Prosecutors Office said prosecutors indicted Aoba on murder, attempted murder, arson and two or charges on Wednesday, when his court-approved custody was to expire.

Aoba is accused of storming into a Kyoto Animation studio on July 18 last year and setting it on fire, killing 36 people and injuring more than 30. attack shocked Japan and drew an outpouring of grief from anime fans around world.

Authorities allege that Aoba was carrying two containers of flammable liquid when he entered studio’s unlocked front door, dumped liquid and set it afire with a lighter.

Seventy people were working inside studio at time of attack.

Many of victims died of carbon moxide poisoning after failing to escape to roof, fire officials said.

One of survivors, an animator, told Japanese media he jumped from a window of three-story building gasping for air amid scorching heat after seeing a “a black mushroom cloud” rising from downstairs.

Aoba sustained severe burns to his face, torso and limbs and was unconscious for weeks. He still cant walk and was transferred on a stretcher from his hospital room to a detention center, where an investigation was carried out while his health was carefully monitored.

Japanese television foot that captured Aoba entering detention center showed his face scarred, eyebrows lost and fingers disfigured, apparently from fire.

Police have said Aoba told m that he set fire because he thought Kyoto Animation "stole vels” and that he thought he could kill many people with gasoline.

Kyoto Animation’s hits include “Lucky Star” of 2008, “K-On!” in 2011 and “Haruhi Suzumiya” in 2009. Its new feature film, “Violet Evergarden,” about a woman who professionally writes letters for clients, was scheduled to open in April but was postponed due to coronavirus pandemic.

fire was Japan’s deliest since 2001, when a blaze in Tokyo’s Kabukicho entertainment district killed 44 people in country’s worst-kwn case of arson in modern times.