Aum Chemist Appeals Death Sentence

The Aum Shinrikyo chemist sentenced to death for helping the Japanese cult develop the sarin nerve agent it used to kill nearly 20 people has filed an appeal with the Japan’s Supreme Court, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Aug. 18).

Masami Tsuchiya, 41, last week lost his appeal to the Tokyo High Court.

He was convicted of murder and attempted murder for leading the cult’s efforts to develop VX, mustard and sarin agents, AP reported.  The group killed seven people with sarin in 1994 in the city of Matusmoto, then killed 12 and injured thousands in a 1995 gas attack on the Tokyo subway system (Associated Press, Aug. 24).

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