A Japanese court sentenced a man to death Thursday for the 2019 arson attack at an animation studio in Kyoto that killed 36 people.

The Kyoto District Court ruled that Shinji Aoba was mentally competent at the time of the attack.

Japanese Court Orders Death Penalty in Anime Studio Arson

Aoba, now 45 years old, admitted setting the fire at the anime studio Kyoto Animation after spreading gasoline on the ground floor.

Japanese Court Orders Death Penalty in Anime Studio Arson

In addition to those killed, the attack also injured 32 people.

Japanese Court Orders Death Penalty in Anime Studio Arson

Aoba believed the studio had stolen ideas from a contest entry he submitted. The company denied those claims. He was also badly burned in the fire and appeared in court in a wheelchair.

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