 Following a defense claim of criminal insanity, on September 6, 2001, psychiatrists found Satō to be mentally fit to face the charges, and he subsequently admitted the main charges.In the first instance, on January 22, 2002, the Niigata District court sentenced him to 14 years out of a maximum of 15 years.The defense appealed on January 24, 2002, and the trial moved to the Tokyo High Court.