Tetsuya Yamagami, the man who assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was sentenced to life in prison. The Nara district court delivered the verdict Wednesday, more than three years after the shocking crime. Yamagami fatally shot Abe at a political rally in Nara in 2022.

Yamagami pleaded guilty to murder last year. His defense argued for leniency, citing his troubled upbringing and his mother's bankruptcy due to the Unification Church. Yamagami reportedly targeted Abe due to the ex-leader's ties to the controversial religious group. Prosecutors argued that Yamagami deserved life imprisonment for his "grave act."

Abe's assassination stunned Japan, a nation with extremely low rates of gun violence. The incident sparked national debate about security for political figures and the influence of the Unification Church. The court's decision brings a degree of closure to a case that deeply impacted Japan and the international community.

The assassination highlighted the rare instances of political violence in Japan, a country known for its strict gun control laws and social order. The Unification Church, founded in South Korea, has faced scrutiny for its fundraising practices and its impact on families. Yamagami will now serve a life sentence for the murder.