Shinji Aoba, the suspect in the murder of 36 people employed at the Kyoto Animation Co. studio last year, underwent five skin graft surgeries before regaining the ability to speak, according to one of the doctors who treated him for the burns he sustained in the arson attack.
Aoba, 42, was arrested Wednesday on murder charges as well as the attempted murder of 34 others.
"I put all my effort into the suspect's treatment for the sake of the victims and the investigation into what really happened," said the doctor who was involved in the treatment that required about four months at the Kindai University Hospital in Osaka-Sayama, Osaka Prefecture. "I hope he that he will earnestly face his crime."
On July 20 last year, two days following the attack, the suspect was transferred to a hospital with a severe burn unit, as there were burns covering more than 90% of Aoba's body, which made treatment impossible at the hospital in Kyoto where he was taken to first.
The doctors at the Osaka hospital estimated his chances of survival to be less than 5%, based on his condition at the time.
Autologous skin grafting, or autograft, is the treatment method used in which the cells of the patient's undamaged skin are cultivated, grown into sheets and applied to the burned areas. Aside from areas such as under the strap of the bag he was carrying at the time and around his groin area, very little unburned skin remained on the suspect's body.
The first skin graft surgery was conducted in mid-August. Once about 20% of his skin was treated, his overall conditions, such as blood pressure, gradually improved. The doctors were convinced that they would be able to save his life after the third graft surgery. The fifth and the final graft took place mid-September and in early October, he had his ventilator removed, and he was able to speak once more.
During the rehabilitation process, Aoba displayed desperate behavior at times, saying things like "This is meaningless" and "I'll get the death penalty anyway."
But after being told repeatedly by the doctor that because he and his team "did everything in their power to treat him, he must also face up to his crime," his attitude began to slowly change.
When Aoba was being transferred to another hospital in November last year, he reportedly said that he never thought there would be anyone who would do their best to treat him, a total stranger.
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