The man who killed Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe has been sentenced to life in prison, three and a half years after he shot him dead at a rally in the city of Nara in 2022.

Tetsuya Yamagami had pleaded guilty to murder charges at the trial's opening last year, but how he should be punished has divided public opinion in Japan. While many see the 45-year-old as a cold-blooded murderer, some sympathise with his troubled upbringing.

Prosecutors stated that Yamagami deserved life imprisonment for his grave act. Abe's assassination stunned the country, which experiences virtually no gun crime.

Seeking leniency, Yamagami's defense team claimed he was a victim of religious abuse. His mother's devotion to the Unification Church bankrupted the family, leading Yamagami to harbor resentment towards Abe upon realizing the ex-leader's ties to the controversial organization.

On Wednesday, Judge Shinichi Tanaka from the Nara district court sentenced Yamagami to life in prison without parole, fulfilling the prosecution's request. In court, Judge Tanaka described Yamagami's actions as despicable and extremely malicious.

Yamagami sat quietly as the sentence was announced, and nearly 700 people had queued in the cold to fill the limited seats in the courtroom.

Abe's shocking death prompted investigations into the Unification Church and its questionable practices, including soliciting financially ruinous donations from followers. The case has also seen the resignation of several cabinet ministers due to their connections with the church.

Yamagami was armed with a homemade gun and fired two shots at Abe during a political campaign event in Nara on July 8, 2022. This act against Japan's longest-serving prime minister sent shockwaves both domestically and internationally.

In an emotional statement read in court, Akie Abe expressed grief, stating, The sorrow of losing my husband will never be relieved. I just wanted him to stay alive. The trial highlighted ongoing societal issues related to the Unification Church and its impact on individuals and families.