Suspect charged with murder in assassination of Japan’s former leader Shinzo Abe

(Nobuki Ito/Kyodo News via AP, File)

Japanese prosecutors have formally charged the suspect in the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe with murder, local media reported.

Tetsuya Yamagami was arrested immediately after allegedly shooting Mr Abe with a homemade gun as the former leader was making a campaign speech in July outside a train station in Nara in western Japan.