Chronology of AUM Shinrikyo developments

BBC News/April 24, 2003

• Tokyo, April 24
  The following is a chronology of developments either involving or allegedly linked to AUM Shinrikyo cult founder Shoko Asahara.
• February 1984
  Shoko Asahara forms AUM Shinse n no Kai, a predecessor to AUM Shinrikyo, to which it was renamed in July 1987.
• November 4, 1989
  Tsutsumi Sakamoto, a lawyer helping people with complaints against the group, is killed along with his wife and 1-year-old son.
• February 1990
  Asahara and 24 other AUM members run in a lower house election, in which all of them lost.
• June 27, 1994
  Fatal sarin nerve gas released in a residential district in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.
• March 20, 1995
  Sarin gas released on Tokyo subway trains.
• May 16, 1995
  Asahara arrested in connection with the subway gassing.
• April 24, 1996
  Asahara goes on trial, failing to enter plea.
• April 24, 1997
  Asahara pleads not guilty, except for a VX nerve gas attack on a man.
• December 2, 1997
  Prosecutors reduce the number of injuries in the indictment on the subway attack to speed up court deliberations.
• December 27, 1999
  A law aimed at monitoring AUM goes into effect.
• January 18, 2000
  AUM admits Asahara 's involvement for the first time. The group renames itself Aleph.
• October 4, 2000
  Prosecutors drop four indictment cases out of 17.
• March 13, 2003
  Asahara stays silent at his first questioning.
• March 27, 2003
  Asahara keeps silent at second questioning.
• April 10, 2003
  Asahara does not speak at third questioning. The examination of evidence wraps up.
• April 24, 2003
  Prosecutors demand death sentence for Asahara.