crime

Father arrested over death of one-month-old daughter in Ibaraki Prefecture

33 Comments

Police in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of murder after he allegedly slammed his one-month-old daughter against a door and punched her in the stomach.

According to police, Sho Onuma, a company employee, who was arrested Monday, has admitted to assaulting his daughter, but denied intent to kill, Sankei Shimbun reported. He said stress built up inside him because the baby wouldn't stop crying.

The incident occurred sometime between July 15 and 23 at the home Onuma shared with his daughter, Maika, and 24-year-old wife.

Police said Onuma is accused of grabbing Maika by the collar and slamming her body against the bathroom door and fusuma sliding doors. Later, when she was asleep, Onuma punched her abdomen and chest with his fist.

After noticing that the baby appeared lifeless on the night of July 23, the couple took her to the hospital early the next morning. The infant was confirmed dead on July 24. The hospital contacted police to report the child may have been fatally abused.

Following her husband’s arrest, his wife was quoted by police as saying, “I was aware of the assault, but was unable to stop it.”

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33 Comments
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Quite the man, this guy. Punching a ONE MONTH OLD after slamming her into the ground. Hope he does more than the usual one or two years for infanticide, and I hope the mother goes to prison as well, for being a coward and watching it happen. Clearly she didn't care one with about the child's life either.

11 ( +16 / -5 )

Life, no parole, daily beatings. Anyone against?

13 ( +17 / -4 )

I think I’m going to vomit! What a disgusting waste of air this POS is! A one month old baby? I’ve got nothing!

12 ( +14 / -2 )

After noticing that the baby appeared lifeless on the night of July 23, the couple took her to the hospital early the next morning.

These two need spayed on top of really long sentences.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

A swift punch to the stomach is a proven method to stop babies from crying. /s

2 ( +4 / -2 )

According to police, Sho Onuma, a company employee, who was arrested Monday, has admitted to assaulting his daughter, but denied intent to kill, Sankei Shimbun reported. 

What were his intention then? What else he expect? How one month old baby can survive this much torture? Even animals protect their babies.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

I did a bit of research on this guy. "Company employee" = construction worker punk, trouble maker in the neighborhood, previously arrested for driving without a license. Dear judge, please be harsh on this guy. And as Mickelicious said, spaying needed.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

This story makes me cry. So awful.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

@smithinJapan

mother goes to prison as well, for being a coward and watching it happen. Clearly she didn't care one with about the child's life either.

Don't be so quick to condemn the mother. A monster such as this, that could do something like that to a completely defenseless and immobile one year old may have been beating his wife as well. The only certain thing is that he is a monster that deserves to be behind bars.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

He aint no father, more like a skeeter offspring maker.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Please, please may be this animal be hung. There is no more heinous crime than what he has done. The scum has no right to huge monetary support from taxpayers for decades, and no right to free food and shelter.

Rest in Peace, little Maika-chan.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Lost for words... but a word of caution to all, NOT all Japanese are ticking time-bombs, just don't show them weakness...They could be......ooohhh!!! The baby....!!!!!

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

I hope the mother goes to prison as well, for being a coward and watching it happen. Clearly she didn't care one with about the child's life either.

Aaaand clearly you weren't there to know that was what really happened. What if she was threatened too? Better give her the benefit of the doubt until further investigations.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Should people be psychologically screened before having children?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

but denied intent to kill

I only slammed the infant against the wall and punched her in the stomach

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Sad, may the little princess rest in peace!! THE BEAST dad or should I say murderer should get the worst prison treatment that can be given out. "Sho Onuma slammed his one-month-old daughter against a door and punched her in the stomach. This beast admitted assaulting his daughter, but denied intent to kill!!! Wait WHAT WAS THIS IDIOT THINKING. He actually thought he can hit a 1 month old child and not kill her? This guy should be castrated his only complaint was stress built up inside because the baby wouldn't stop crying. Tough guy I would like to see him in a jail in america where when you kill kids the minute you are out in general population its your last day alive. Poor wife he probably beat her to saying she was aware of the assault but couldn't stop it. Wow some cultures are different I know mother will kill the father or do what ever possible to stop him from harming their child!!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

A criminal from Hell with an Evil mind. The poor baby never stood a chance. I hope he remains childless and never get to enjoy life around any children, looser.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Randy,

""Should people be psychologically screened before having children?""

YES indeed. In many parts of the world couples are tested prior to issuing a marriage certificate which also includes a blood test to avoid a down syndrome baby.

Japan as far as I know!? is yet to start these tests. I see many couples who are mentally ill but having children as a pet or a toy.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Should people be psychologically screened before having children?

I’m afraid this country’s population would decline even faster, but judging the way Japan handles psychological disorders I think this won’t happen anytime soon.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Police said Onuma is accused of grabbing Maika by the collar and slamming her body against the bathroom door and fusuma sliding doors. Later, when she was asleep, Onuma punched her abdomen and chest with his fist.

A ONE MONTH OLD ABSOLUTELY HELPLESS CHILD! Let that sink in for a while...one month old. Looking to you for love and protection and you then punched the poor child while she was asleep! What kind of evil is this? If he were my son, I would disown him. Death penalty is what he deserves.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

 He said stress built up inside him because the baby wouldn't stop crying.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard this excuse. I hate the sound of crying infants, too. So you know what I did? I refused to have kids.

As for the mother, the wording in the article seems weird. Maybe it makes more sense in Japanese, but it’s hard to tell if she was aware of the assault before or after it happened. It would make sense that she couldn’t stop it if she only noticed after the fact.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Holy Christ. Why are there so many stories like this coming out of Japan. Seriously.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Police in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of murder after he allegedly slammed his one-month-old daughter against a door and punched her in the stomach.

What??? I cant find words.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

life time no parole or dead penalty.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

One month. RIP little one.

I feel sorry for the mother as well. Reading between the lines she feels defenceless as well.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

he allegedly slammed his one-month-old daughter against a door and punched her in the stomach.

Its lunch time and I can't finish my lunch after reading this post. We're expecting a baby soon and I can't even think of doing this even IF I were under stress! Go for a walk, play video games, talk with your friends, travel or something else! You don't go punching 1 month old babies to death! Come on now! SMH!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Life, no parole, daily beatings,

100% agree with you

2 ( +2 / -0 )

We have recently read other JT stories where the mother killed her infant(s), and all of us posters have reacted in disgust to those as well. The mother usually claims to be suffering from some kind of post-partum depression, which could very well be true since it is recognizable syndrome, and often gets some leniency from the courts. Yes, I know female post-partum depression also has some root in chemical and hormonal imbalances after pregnancy and isn't just in the mind, but I wonder whether the father also could experience some kind of post-partum depression - at least in a psychological sense. The noise, the hard work, the sleeplessness, the lack of affection from his mate, the depressing reality that the little bundle of joy really is just a little bundle, the complete lack of preparedness, and (in Japan) a significant lack of social and governmental assistance - all swirl into a dangerous and toxic mix in the father's brain. So our population of immature, shallow Japanese men may suffer from a male version of post-partum depression.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'd like to give the mother the benefit of the doubt and that she perhaps ashamed for not doing anything sooner which is perhaps why her comment was very short. Again, that's what I would like to believe.

That being said, I can honestly say that if someone was beating my child that I would not hesitate to put my life ahead of hers. If that meant leaving and being homeless with my child, so be it. We'd be better off.

We only have one child, a 19 year old daughter, who we have never raised our hand to. She got into trouble when she was a child but nothing warranted striking her.

As a father, and as aforementioned, I (and my wife) would not hesitate to put my life ahead of hers even to this day.

I get it. Being a parent is not easy but it's also so rewarding at the same time. I just can't understand something like this happening. There is just no excuse, IMHO.

This guy needs to go away.... For a long time....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The noise, the hard work, the sleeplessness, the lack of affection from his mate, the depressing reality that the little bundle of joy really is just a little bundle, the complete lack of preparedness, and (in Japan) a significant lack of social and governmental assistance

There are a lot of assumptions in this sentence, but I think the most rank is the assumption that his wife was ‘lacking in affection’. That hews dangerously close to sounding like ‘if only she’d put out more, he wouldn’t have killed that baby”.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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