A somber case is currently making its way through the Japanese legal system as a 93-year-old man goes on trial for killing his wife, apparently at her request. This heartbreaking case has made headlines in Japan and evoked a gut-wrenching testimony from their eldest daughter.
The man, who remains unnamed despite intense media scrutiny, is on trail for ending his wife’s life on January 2, 2014 by strangling her with a necktie. His 83-year-old wife had been suffering from light dementia and experiencing reduced mobility, resulting in repeated falls and injury. She apparently implored her husband to take her life since she “didn’t want to be a burden to her family,” and left behind a note with statements to the same effect.
The couple’s eldest daughter, who often visited to help out, said in her testimony that her father had come to be responsible for the running of the entire household, taking care of everything from the shopping to cleaning and cooking. She also revealed that her mother had broken a bone last October and that the pain was keeping her from sleeping.
The couple met at work in Asakusa, Tokyo, and had been married for about 60 years with three children.
The 93-year-old man explained how his wife had begged him to take her life, telling the court: “My wife said, ‘I can’t do anything. I’m just in pain,’ and I couldn’t refuse anymore.”
The man described how he lay next to his wife during her final moments and thought back to when they had first met. “She was smiling and she was very beautiful,” he told the court. “I still love her.”
The couple’s eldest daughter, meanwhile, said that she wished she had noticed what was happening sooner. Before the court, she apologized to her father, saying that she had not been aware that her mother’s situation was so desperate.
The prosecution is requesting that the husband be imprisoned for five years, arguing that while it was certainly a difficult decision for the 93-year-old to make, it was possible that his wife was not entirely sincere in her requests for her husband to end it all, arguing that she may have simply been “grumbling” due to her poor health.
“I wish I had been a better man and could have responded better.” the accused is reported to have said. “I will listen to whatever the court says.”
The verdict will be handed down in July.
As Japan’s population ages, these cases seem to be more common. A similar case recently occurred in Yokohama, involving an 87-year-old man who strangled his older sister at her request.
Source: Asahi Shimbun
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- 65-year-old arrested for theft: “I never worked” -- Fukushima Mother to Reporter: “I Wish My Daughters Were Never Born” -- Nine reasons why Japanese men hesitate to say “I love you”
© Japan Today
9 Comments
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sensei258
Even if he did it out of malice without her consent, nothing will ever happen to this guy. No court in Japan will ever put a 93 year old man in jail.
khulifi
Let this poor man go home ...
jonnydesu
So a woman who beats her cheating husband to death gets a suspended sentence, but this poor man is facing 5 years in jail for doing what is wife wanted! Sad, just sad. This man has suffered more than any jail sentence could ever give him. I hope they drop the case immediately.
TexPomeroy
The judges will probably give him 3 years of light labor if it's a sunny day and they are in a good mood.. Nuts!!!
Michael Grant
That is the problem with this society, people are to afraid or "proud" to ask for help, even from their own family members because they don't want to be a "burden".
Killing our "loved ones", whether requested or not, is no way to run a civilization!
Mocheake
The prosecutor should be ashamed. How backward can the 'justice' system be? Go and put real criminals behind bars and leave this poor grieving man and his family alone.
destinystring
A man kills his wife. A sad story story is attached and everybody cries unjustice/leniency and let him go. A young man kills his girlfriend and a cruel story is attached and everybody cries for the death penalty. Mind you ... I am not comparing crimes here. How quick people decide what a criminal is and what not amazes me. Imagine only one had said in the news (untrue) that this old man plays a lot of pachinko and could not afford the finincial burden for his wife. A bit thinking would help and let the sunshine in for all those propaganda victims in Japan.
peace_zzz
What a sad story. At least I know now have to be careful when say something to Japanese man. When your love one ask you to kill them, it's really not right to really kill them. Just calm them down.
camari1
If I ever become a zombie its alright to put me down... Same difference! haha but seriously this ruling will be really big in Japan because of the mass of an aging population.