Aum Shinrikyo Chemist Appeals Death Sentence

(Tokyo, Japan) In March 1995, a sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system by the Aum Shinrikyo cult killed 12 and hospitalized thousands. Last Friday, the Tokyo District Court convicted Masami Tsuchiya, 39, of playing a key role in the murder of 13 people in crimes committed by the cult, including producing sarin for two deadly nerve gas attacks and six other criminal counts. He was sentenced to death and has filed an appeal to the Tokyo High Court.