In 2017, a 36-year-old man by the name of Gabriel Hikari Yad-Elohim was sentenced to life in prison for the gruesome murder of a 69-year-old man, Michael Mulholland, in Auckland, New Zealand. This case shocked the world when it was first announced, as how the crime was committed was far from the norm.
According to a report by The New Zealand Herald and Anime News Network, a new development in Yad-Elohim’s case has once again caused surprise, as there is evidence that the popular anime series Bleach inspired his actions. According to the lawyers of the convicted, the video of the crime and scenes from Ichigo Kurosaki’s adventures have many similarities.
Yad-Elohim’s Defense Claimed He Was Recreating a Bleach Episode
The Particular Scene Was Not Mentioned in the Report
During a night back in 2017, an Auckland resident was attacked by one of his neighbors, Yad-Elohim, on the staircase of his apartment building. The criminal acted ruthlessly, not letting his victim rest for various minutes. The reports indicate that Yad-Elohim dealt more than 90 blows to his victim, culminating with the death of the innocent man that same night. Following his arrest, the perpetrator’s defense attempted to get him an insanity deal, as the man had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in the past.
The Supreme Court considered the video and the transcript of a monologue that Yad-Elohim had delivered in Japanese in a police interview room.
-New Zealand Supreme Court.
While the lawyers’ arguments have been rejected by the court in the past, new evidence points to Yad-Elohim going through a schizophrenic attack at the time of the crime. The defense’s psychiatrist, Dr. Cavney, has released a statement where he indicates that the actions of his client look extremely like scenes from the world-famous anime Bleach. According to the professional’s report, when seen side by side, Yad-Elohim’s attacks are visually similar to those of the protagonist, Ichigo Kurosaki, a member of a race of strong warriors known as Shinigami.
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This hypothesis has gained strength lately, as a police video of the perpetrator one day after the attack shows him delivering a speech in Japanese. Dr. Canvey’s report does not indicate the episode or scene that his client was recreating during the assault. New Zealand’s Supreme Court has declared that the video comparing Yad-Elohim’s crime with one of the franchise’s battles and the speech given by the man will be considered for future rulings. According to the judges, the evidence does not seem altered in any way and could prove crucial for the case moving forward.
Although shocking, this would not be the first time that Yad-Elohim had been under the delusion that he was an anime character. Various reports and testimonies allege that he had acted in similar ways in the past, claiming that he could see ghosts, hear voices, and present himself as the protagonist of a Japanese show. There have been no further announcements about what the court’s ruling will be as of January 15, 2025. Nonetheless, it is expected that these new pieces of evidence will have a major impact on the case.
Bleach is not the first and will not be the last anime franchise that has been used as inspiration to commit a crime. Nevertheless, readers must remember that there are many more layers to events such as this one. Ichigo’s adventure and his creator, the celebrated Tite Kubo, are not to blame for Yad-Elohim’s actions.
Sources: New Zealand Herald, Anime News Network
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is a sequel series to the popular anime from creator Tite Kubo. This anime follows Ichigo and his friends as they investigate why people are disappearing while trouble arises in the Soul Society. The first season was released in 2022 and has been critically acclaimed since its beginning.
- Release Date
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October 10, 2022
- Network
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TV Tokyo
- Story By
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Tite Kubo
- Writers
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Tite Kubo
- Showrunner
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Tite Kubo
