AUM founder Asahara's defense puts blame on followers

Kyodo News Service in Japan Today/October 30, 2003

Tokyo -- AUM Shinrikyo cult founder Shoko Asahara's defense lawyers argued Thursday that Asahara is not guilty of ordering two sarin gas attacks and other crimes killing 27 people, and placed the blame on his followers.

Asahara's state-appointed lawyers, who began their two-day closing arguments at the Tokyo District Court, sought to refute the 13 criminal charges filed against Asahara, including those related to the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system on March 20, 1995.