A former Aum Shinrikyo follower convicted in 1996 of killing a fellow cultist testified Friday at the Tokyo District Court that he felt no anger or hatred toward his victim, though cult leader Shoko Asahara tried to induce those feelings in him.
Describing his feelings during the 111th session of Asahara's trial, Hideaki Yasuda, 31, alleged that the guru told him Kotaro Ochida, 29, wanted to kidnap and marry Yasuda's mother and ultimately murder Yasuda.
"(Yasuda) was a hard-working, clean-cut man," he said. "I trusted him."