After 256 court sessions, the trial of Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara finally drew to a close on Friday, with the defendant again refusing to speak.
Asahara's lawyers presented their final arguments to the Tokyo District Court, which heard the first session in the case in April 1996, and the court announced that it would hand down a ruling Feb. 27.
Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for Asahara, whose real name is Chizuo Matsumoto.