Lawyers for Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara challenged on July 18 the testimony given by a former key cultist for the prosecution, in which he spelled out the role Asahara played in the 1989 murder of a Yokohama lawyer and his family.
The lawyers for Asahara, whose real name is Chizuo Matsumoto, said there are inconsistencies in the testimony of Kazuaki Okazaki in interrogation reports regarding other Aum members. The hearing was held before the Tokyo District Court following the July 17 session.
Okazaki testified that Asahara gave detailed instructions about killing attorney Tsutsumi Sakamoto, who had been working to help people get relatives out of the cult and others allegedly victimized by Aum. Asahara ordered six disciples, including Okazaki, to divide into two groups and contact each other by radio on Nov. 3, 1989, Okazaki testified.