Asahara's lawyers face punishment for delaying court procedures

The Tokyo High Court on Monday urged the Japan Federation of Bar Associations to penalize two lawyers for Aum Shinrikyo cult founder Shoko Asahara for delaying court procedures by missing the deadline for submitting an appeal document, court officials said.

Takeshi Matsui and Akio Matsushita were appointed as defense lawyers of Asahara, 51, whose real name is Chizuo Matsumoto, for the trial at the Tokyo High Court, after he was sentenced to death by the Tokyo District Court in February 2004. The lawyers demanded trials be suspended and did not submit a statement of reasons for an appeal by the August 2005 deadline, arguing that Asahara lacked the ability to undergo a trial as he could not communicate with them."