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Police in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, have arrested a 90-year-old man on suspicion of killing his 85-year-old wife by setting fire to their apartment.
According to police, Tatsuo Okamoto used a lighter to start a fire at the 4th-floor municipal apartment where he lived with his wife Reiko at around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sankei Shimbun reported. The room in which Reiko was sleeping was completely destroyed by the fire.
A passerby called 110 after seeing smoke coming from one of the rooms.
Okamoto, who was taken to hospital suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, was arrested on Wednesday. Police said he has admitted starting the fire but denied intending to kill his wife.
© Japan Today
8 Comments
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Mark
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.
purple_depressed_bacon
This seems to be a popular excuse for arsonists, murderers etc. here. I'm starting to wonder if they actually believe that strangling someone or setting a place on fire really doesn't result in a death.
snowymountainhell
Dementia? To keep warm? One, or two, additional details never disclosed in these preliminary stories:
“Okamoto, who was taken to hospital suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, was arrested on Wed. Police said he has admitted starting the fire . . .. . . but denied intending to kill his wife.”
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
It appears unclear that he started the fire to kill his wife.
relic1980
Presumably they will investigate whether or not he suffers from dementia? Surely there's a reason why a 90-year old would do such a thing as this?
Chico3
I'm sure regarding his age, not much will happen to him. Ain't that a shame.
Michael Machida
Starting the fire had what intention in mind then? Just to warm up the place?
Tom Doley
Another guy with mental illness. It’s surprising that so many aged people here have the will to commit such horrific crimes.