Doctor queried on Aum gas attack autopsy

Defense lawyers for Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara on Friday cross-examined a professor of forensic medicine who conducted an autopsy on a victim of the March 1995 Tokyo subway nerve gas attack.

The defense counsel continued its meticulous questioning of Ikuo Ishiyama, a professor in the medical department of Teikyo University, about his autopsy on one of the 12 victims of the sarin attack, verifying every detail in his report. Ishiyama was taking the witness stand for the prosecution in Asahara's trial before the Tokyo District Court.

At one point, apparently irritated by the lawyers' questioning of his autopsy techniques, Ishiyama said he did not understand the intent of the questions. "Tell me what you want to know." he said. "If you really want to discuss these (technical) details, please ask after studying some technical books ... or you can come to my lab to study," he said.

Urging the lawyers to refrain from making their questions overly detailed, presiding Judge Fumihiro Abe told the witness to answer the questions as if he were teaching at his forensic pathology lab. Asahara, who was unable to attend Thursday's court session due to illness, thereby making the court postpone the scheduled hearing, sometimes mumbled to himself Friday as he sat in the defendant's seat with his eyes closed.