TOKYO, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- A former member of the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo apologized as his trial opened Thursday to the family of a man kidnapped and killed in 1995.
But Makoto Hirata, 48, who surrendered in 2011 after 17 years as a fugitive, denied knowing of the group's plans for Kiyoshi Kiraha, 68, the Japan Times reported. Kiraha was kidnapped and tortured after his sister left the group.
"I'm terribly sorry for causing all the pain to his family," Hirata said.
Aum Shinrikyo's most notorious action was the 1995 release of sarin gas on Tokyo subway trains, killing 13 people and injuring hundreds or possibly thousands more. Thirteen people, including the group's founder, Shoko Asahara, are currently awaiting execution.
An earlier sarin attack in 1994 killed eight.
The group, which now uses the name Aleph, remains active, although much smaller.
Hirata, who drove the getaway car when Kiraha was abducted, has not been charged with murder. He denied knowledge of the plan to kidnap Kiraha, saying he believed the target was his sister. She left the cult after its leaders tried to get her to sign over valuable real estate.
Several members of the group now on death row are expected to testify. More than 1,100 people lined up Thursday morning to try for one of the 56 public seats in the courtroom. the Times said.
