crime

Parents arrested for starving 3-year-old daughter to death

28 Comments

Police in Ibaraki City, Osaka, have arrested a 22-year-old man and his 19-year-old wife for allegedly starving their 3-year-old daughter to death earlier this year.

Police said Yuki Kishimoto and his wife, who cannot be named because she is a minor, have denied the charge.

NTV reported that the couple began depriving their daughter Sayane of food in February, leaving her severely malnourished. Kishimoto called 119 on June 15 and said that Sayane had lost consciousness. She was taken to hospital where she died later.

An autopsy revealed bits of candle wax, aluminium foil and onion skin in the girl's stomach. Doctors said she weighed only 8 kilograms, about half the weight of a normal child her age.

Police quoted the Kishimotos as saying they had not abused their child and that she had suddenly become very frail only days before her death. They also said Sayane suffered from a muscular disorder, congenital myopathy, since she was born, which they believe caused her death.

However, police said that while the hospital confirmed Sayane had the muscular disorder, the autopsy revealed malnutrition as the cause of death, NTV reported.

Media also reported that the medical examiner found numerous bruises and other marks indicating physical abuse on the Sayane's body.

The couple also has a son but police said there were no signs that he had been abused.

© Japan Today

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28 Comments
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Despicable couple. RIP to the poor young girl. At least no one can hurt her anymore.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

RIP little girl.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Neighbours, in-laws etc., nobody noticed anything? Sad, sad story, I wish them (the parents) the worst of everything.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Feel sorry for all the abused and brutalized children who have never known a parent's love.

7 ( +7 / -1 )

how could your own mum and dad do this to you,,so sorry you miss your full time here,love you RIP

2 ( +3 / -1 )

you can't blame it on kids having kids. My first kid was born six months after I turnned 18, but there was never any abuse and I have grandchildren now. I'm gonna guess these kids were cut off by their parents and relatives. I'm also gonna guess it's not safe to leave the other kid in heir care regardless of his present condition.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

As much as I don't understand the reasons to all these issues, what puzzles me all the more is why do they still have to protect the persons name because he or she is a minor? Why do the authorities still have to respect the names of these beings?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Sadly THESE are the kinds of ""parents"" that Japan will(in fact its already started a number of years ago!) be seeing more & more as time passes, the ones who are utterly incapable of sustaining a family yet end up with kids, meanwhile I predict more & more Japanese will put off or go without kids as time passes.

Unless Japan TOTALLY re-invents itself we are going to be witnessing more & more misery on these isles!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

This story just made me so angry. How can someone do this to a child? How can anyone ever rationalize this? You are in Japan, if you work part time you can feed your child. There is no excuse!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

These parents are worse than beasts. Pieces of wax, aluminum and what not, disgusting. Where are the grandparents, didn't they suspect anything?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The article doesn't make it clear whether the girl had congenital myopathy or not. If so, it might explain why others hadn't noticed a problem. And I guess it might indicate the problem was a failure to cope with the condition. That's not an excuse, but I find the description in the article a little different from other reports of abuse on young children by parents. Of course, it's possible that the couple's explanation is correct and the authorities are wrong. I guess we'll find out at the court case.

@Marilita, one reason for not revealing the name is that it is the law. Another is that she hasn't been found guilty of anything yet.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The hospital did confirm the child had congenital myopathy.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Another is that she hasn't been found guilty of anything yet.

Has Yuki (the husband/father) been found guitky of anything?

Let's seen now, Yuki Kishimoto can be named because he is 23 but 19 year old Mrs.Kishimoto cannot be named because she is a minor. 3 year old Sayane can be named. So the 19 year old is a minor but 3 years old is not? We have to protect a 19 year old married woman but where was the government protection for the 3 year old when she really needed it?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

It IS kids having kids. She was making babies at 15, not even an ichinensei, and he a sannensei. Candle wax, aluminum foil, and onion skin = she was trying to feed herself. Mocheake is right. No respect for or understanding of human life.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

I agree with sensei258, I was thinking the same thing regarding the contents of her stomach. Rest in peace little one.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

who cannot be named because she is a minor

She's an adult, in most other countries in the world. Do we have to wait a few more months, and then she'll be named. Is that it?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I really can't comprehend how they could do something like that to a little girl.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Do the same to them...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If the poor kid was 3 that means mom gave birth at 16.

I hope the little boy will be taken care of...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Father of three, thirty year vet of Japan and teacher of thousands. The sense of reality about life - real life - in Japan is slipping. The influences of 'pop culture' and media, a generation of parents who have no bloody clue, and an outdated approach to what is education are producing a level inhabited by people such as these. For every example that makes the news there are many more who do not. 'Producing' because they have nothing else to do and failing because they have no clue. Many parents of these KIDS are also clueless and the schools have no guts when it come to practical sex education and life skills.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

She's an adult, in most other countries in the world.

But she is in Japan, so what those other countries consider an adult doesn't matter.

Do we have to wait a few more months, and then she'll be named. Is that it?

Depends on what transpires with the case.

Why are so many people hung up about the mother's name?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Poor little girl... It's so sad...to be born in such a "family"... I've heard that here in Japan, a gaijin cannot adopt a child..even if one of spouse is pure japanese.. RIP little angel

2 ( +2 / -0 )

She was the mother's child by an earlier partner, apparently. When the little boy was born, he got all the parents' love and attention.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

and his wife, who cannot be named because she is a minor

Shes old enough to have a kid, beat, and then murder her, but not old enough to be named???? Outrageous!!! Dumbest law ever!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

RIP darling, atleast they wont hurt you anymore! Sad story!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Doesn't get much sadder than this. Disgusting.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I call for punishment!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Rest In Peace to the child. What part of planet monster did the mom and dad come from?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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