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Japanese Man Sentenced to Death for Setting Fire to Kyoto Animation Studio

45-Year-Old Convicted of Murdering 36 People in 2019 Arson Attack

Court Finds Defendant Guilty of “Unprecedented Level of Cruelty”

TOKYO, Jan. 25 (CNN) – A Japanese court on Thursday sentenced a 45-year-old man to death for setting fire to the Kyoto Animation studio in 2019, killing 36 people and injuring dozens more.

The defendant, Shinji Aoba, was convicted of murder, arson, and other crimes. The court found that he had acted with “an unprecedented level of cruelty” and had shown no remorse for his actions.

The arson attack on the Kyoto Animation studio was one of the deadliest mass killings in Japan's postwar history. The fire destroyed the studio's building and killed many of its employees, who were working on popular anime series such as “Violet Evergarden” and “Clannad.”

The court's decision is likely to be met with mixed reactions. Some people may see it as a just punishment for a heinous crime, while others may question the use of the death penalty.