The Fukuoka District Court has sentenced a 24-year-old man and his 23-year-old former wife to 12 years in prison after they were found guilty of fatally abusing her three-year-old son from a prior marriage.
The court ruled on Friday that Ryoga Suemasu, an ex-construction worker, beat his stepson Manato about the head several times at around 10:30 p.m. on Aug 15, 2020, at their apartment in Nakama, Fukuoka Prefecture, Fuji TV reported. Manato lost consciousness and early the next morning, his mother Ayumi noticed something was wrong with him. She and Suemasu took him to a hospital where doctors later contacted police about a case of possible child abuse.
Manato later died of an acute subdural hematoma.
Police arrested Suematsu and Ayumi on suspicion of fatal abuse, but both denied the charge.
When he was initially arrested, Suematsu admitted hitting Manato with his fists, telling police he lost his temper because the boy wouldn’t go to sleep when it was his bedtime but denied any intent to kill him.
Police said doctors found other bruises on the boy’s body and believe he may have been abused on several occasions. Ayumi admitted putting sand in his mouth one time.
Suematsu had moved in with Manato and his mother in May 2020.
In handing down the ruling, the presiding judge called the abuse an act of outrageous cruelty.
© Japan Today
19 Comments
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PepperLunch
No denying having kids is hardwork but how on earth do you lose it so badly you beat a child to death.
He beat him around the head disgusting simply disgusting.
Wellington
Hopefully his fellow inmates will repay the favor. I doubt that those who beat children to death last long in prison.
Thaiman
Good job judges. At 36 when he comes out he will understand what fatherhood is all about.
Fighto!
Sickening. 12 years is all a childs life is worth, a boy who was repeatedly tortured by two scum and beaten to death. The pain this little boy endured in his short life is unthinkable.
These animals will be free in society again at 35 and 36, still very young, and free to have more kids. Disgusting.
Rest in Peace to the poor little boy.
purple_depressed_bacon
And yet the final sentence was a pathetic 12 years? I don't understand this country and its lackadaisical approach to child abuse. 12 years in prison is not nearly enough punishment for these abusers who thought beating a child repeatedly in the head was okay. No wonder their birthrate is declining rapidly; who'd want to raise a kid in a place that doesn't value children's lives?
Speed
12 years. Well that's an improvement over the usual 7 years max they usually get for killing their own kids. Let's hope the trend keeps going higher like our taxes.
Dio
Ridiculous… you want to stop child abuse you must punish those people with much higher charges.
What they did was horrible and unforgivable they should get lifetime or even worse.
Mocheake
That's putting it mildly. The sentence was more than I expected but still light.
ebisen
So, to put things into perspective, these two will get out and walk among us before they're 35. Let that sink in for a moment...
Sanjinosebleed
Still able to have kids and do it all over again in 12 years??? They should be neutered! scumbags
shogun36
JUST 12 years?
Every member of the the ruling court should get at least 12 per person.
Both of those “people” should get 12 years multiplied by every year that baby was alive.
Savages
Aly Rustom
disgusting. they should have gotten life
smithinjapan
Unbelievable cruelty, especially when it's suspected they had abused him before and the mother admitted to it, should warrant more than 12 years apiece. Better than the usual two for child murder, granted, but still not nearly enough for these scum. I hope they get 10-fold in prison what they gave to this poor child, and I hope that is EVERY DAY of those 12 years.
WilliB
Very well deserved sentence! I hope they serve it in full.
Japan Violet
12 years later the boy would have been 15 years old. I feel they deserve more time.
Martimurano
The judge calls this "an act of outrageous cruelty".
Everyone else thinks it should have been murder.
This pair should never be allowed to see the light of day again.
Zaphod
Wellington
Forget your prision visions from the American Hollywood world. This is Japan, and prisons are controlled.
kaimycahl
12 years is not enough!
miss_oikawa
12 years??? Should be the death penalty.