Japan subway sarin attack cultist trial opens Mr Kariya, 68, was bundled into a car and driven to a cult compound where he was administered a home-made "truth serum" in an effort to find out the details of legal moves against the organisation. Mr Kariya apparently died of an overdose of the drug and his body was incinerated in a furnace. Hirata is also charged with firebombing an apartment in Tokyo in March 1995, which he denies, but he has admitted to setting fire to a property that belonged to the cult in an effort to distract the police investigation. He also denied involvement in the sarin gas attacks in March 1995 and the subsequent attempt to assassinate Takaji Kunimatsu, the head of the National Police Agency, outside his apartment. Hirata turned himself in to police on New Year's Eve 2012 - although he was initially turned away by the officer on duty, who thought it was a prank. Hirata told investigators that he wanted closure after so many years on the run. A woman who helped to shelter Hirata during his years avoiding the authorities is to give evidence in the trial, along with three senior members of the cult who have already been given death sentences. Hirata is also facing a death sentence and the court will hand down a ruling in early March.