Overview
- The defendant, Iizuka Kohei, apologized in court and said he will live with regret and reflection until death in prison, addressing the victim’s family with remorse.
- He testified that he held no personal grudge against probation officer Shinjo Hiroshi and admitted he "used" him to vent dissatisfaction with the state.
- Iizuka told the court he had fantasized about killing the prefectural governor but, guided by an inner "guardian god" voice, decided a probation officer was a more reachable target.
- A court-appointed psychiatrist said Iizuka viewed the victim as an oppressive instrument of Japan’s system, while a clinical psychologist linked the crime to helplessness and blaming society.
- Charges include murder, obstruction of official duties, and weapons violations in a lay-judge trial at Otsu District Court, where records show Iizuka had met the victim regularly since 2019 as part of probation.