This reminds me of the cartoon line: 'I didn't know the gun was loaded; at the
time it was a pleasant surprise.' -MW
Japanese doomsday cultist says he didn't think gas was so deadly
Copyright 1998 Nando.net
Copyright 1998 Reuters News Service
TOKYO (April 24, 1998 07:31 a.m. EDT http://www.nando.net) - A member of
the Aum Shinri Kyo - Supreme Truth - doomsday cult who released sarin
nerve gas on Tokyo subway trains testified on Friday that the sect did
not realize the gas was so deadly.
Yasuo Hayashi, one of five cult members who directly took part in the
March 20, 1995, gas attack that killed 12 and sickened about 6,000, also
said few cult members were aware the group was trying to produce the
gas.
Speaking at the two-year-old trial of cult leader Shoko Asahara, Hayashi
said if he and other members had known how deadly the gas was they would
not have handled it so casually.
"We didn't think sarin could be so dangerous. If so, we would never have
put a box full of sarin-filled (plastic) bags into a car trunk," Hayashi
said.
The group released the gas on crowded subway trains by puncturing the
plastic bags with sharpened umbrella tips.
Asahara, who was present in court for Hayashi's testimony, dozed
occasionally and was reprimanded by the judge, who told him to stay
awake and pay attention.
Asahara, 42, is standing trial for murder and attempted murder in the
subway gassing.
Prosecutors accuse Asahara of ordering the subway attack in a bid to
bring down the government so the sect could take over the country.
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