The trial over Japan's worst nuclear accident opened Monday with six JCO Co. employees pleading guilty to charges of negligence resulting in death and the company pleading guilty to violating the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law.
The trial over the 1999 criticality accident at a JCO facility in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture, that killed two JCO workers is being held before the Mito District Court.
Kenzo Koshijima, 54, former head of the uranium processing plant in Tokai, and five other employees pleaded guilty to negligence.
JCO President Tomoyuki Inami entered a guilty plea on behalf of the company, saying, "I know it's too late for regret. I can only pray for the souls of the dead."