Psychiatrist reports Aum founder Asahara unfit for trial

Kyodo in Japan Today/January 17, 2006

Tokyo -- The defense counsel for Shoko Asahara, founder of the religious cult formerly known as Aum Shinrikyo, released parts of a psychiatrist's report Monday that said he is unable to stand trial as he is in a confused state of mind.

The report of Masaaki Noda, professor at Kwansei Gakuin University, will be submitted to the Tokyo High Court, to which Asahara, 50, whose actual name is Chizuo Matsumoto, has appealed the death sentence against him, the lawyers said. The lawyers will ask the high court to suspend the trial of Asahara, who has been accused of over 13 counts of crimes, including the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.