The defense counsel of Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara on Friday cross-examined a doctor who led the team that determined the cause of death of four of the 12 victims of the 1995 Tokyo subway nerve gas attack.
Testifying for the prosecution in the 99th session of Asahara's trial, Takehiko Takatori -- a professor of forensic pathology at the University of Tokyo's medical school -- answered lawyers' detailed questions about his earlier testimony that claimed the victims had died of sarin poisoning.
In the earlier trial, the doctor said the absorption of the nerve gas had harmed the functions of an enzyme in the victims, which in turn damaged their respiration centers. Responding to lawyers' questions, Takatori explained again details concerning the workings of the enzyme during Friday's session.