crime

Man kills sick wife; then jumps to death from nearby building

24 Comments

A 77-year-old man killed his 77-year-old wife and then committed suicide by jumping from a nearby apartment building in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, police said Sunday.

According to police, Minoru Imai killed his wife Kimie, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, sometime on Saturday morning at their home, Fuji TV reported. His body was found on the grounds of an apartment building about one kilometer away at around 10:15 a.m.

Kimie's body was found by the couple’s 55-year-old son at 11 a.m.

Police said the woman had been beaten about the head. She was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead due to internal bleeding.

Police said a note was left in the house, in which Minoru stated that he was worn out from looking after his wife.

Local media reported that Imai had contacted police in March, saying his wife had told him she wanted to die.

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24 Comments
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At the risk of sounding cold hearted, I do believe that assisted suicide is legal in Japan. I wonder if it had to come to this if she truly wanted to die? However, taking care of someone can suck the life and senses out of the caregiver to the point where they often can't think straight, but still... RIP

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Sad.............expect a LOT more of similar here on in

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Selfish act.

-19 ( +2 / -21 )

Selfish act.

I think it is a lot more complex than this superficial view.

20 ( +24 / -4 )

I get that people are exhausted from taking care of somebody, especially depending on their particular case of Alzheimer's. But beating her to death because you're tired out instead of selling your house and having her taken care of in a facility for example, or even just bringing her to the hospital and leaving her there and disappearing, would still be better than bashing her skull in. It's not okay to brutally murder somebody just because it makes your life easier.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Murder is murder.

Certainly there were better options than brutally beating someone to death.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

It's just sad. RIP - both of you.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

. It's not okay to brutally murder somebody just because it makes your life easier.

He jumped to his death from a building - I expect it was planned, but just about making life easier.

I don't know why he acted as he did, but it was clearly not to lead to an easier life.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

This is horrifyingly sad. I personally know people who have died from Alzheimer's.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

 It's not okay to brutally murder somebody just because it makes your life easier.

Nobody said it was. Expressing some understanding or sympathy is not the same as approving of something.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I think it is a lot more complex than this superficial view.

As sad and tragic as his wife’s illness was murder isn’t very complex to understand and certainly isn’t a superficial act.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

So incredibly sad. The desperation needed to do something like that? Perhaps the last act of true compassion. To give your own life, so that your Love will not suffer. I refuse to judge

5 ( +7 / -2 )

If caring for his wife with Alzheimers alone made him desperate and suicidal, there are two illnesses which need our compassion in this devastating but all too common story. Given Japanese longevity statistics the poor man was likely thinking he had 25 years ahead of him.

Civilized societies ought to offer comfortable and respectful end-of-life choices for people.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

At the risk of sounding cold hearted, I do believe that assisted suicide is legal in Japan.

Nope. It's not legal. Unassisted only is allowed.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Euthanasia in Japan is neither legal or illegal, there simply isn't a direct law in regards to this. However, suicide assisted by physicians is illegal, and two court decisions, one in 1995 (doctor, upon request by victim's son, administered a lethal dose of drugs) and another in 2005 (doctor removed a patient's breathing tube and injected muscle relaxants without patient's approval), found the doctors guilty of homicide.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Kurt vonMedingMay 13 10:56 pm JSTSo incredibly sad. The desperation needed to do something like that? Perhaps the last act of true compassion. To give your own life, so that your Love will not suffer. I refuse to judge

The husband could've got some outside assistance for tending for his sick wife. Killing her off is still murder - simple as that. Nancy Reagan stood by her husband Ronald while his mind fell into senile insanity. She didn't dust him off and she never left him. This is a murder-suicide and it's wrong. 2 wrongs don't make things right, nor do they make them even.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Nancy Reagan stood by her husband Ronald while his mind fell into senile insanity. She didn't dust him off and she never left him. 

Not everybody is as wealthy as Nancy Reagan. It makes a big difference when you can buy help and comfort.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

My oh my, we are quick to judge. We have no idea their situation. Many people said why didn't he sell his house and put her into a nursing home. Maybe he didn't have the money, didn't own a house. Maybe she kept refusing to go. She may have been abusive to him. Unless we know the full story, I will not judge anybody.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@ commanteer - where is your sympathy and understanding for the poor victim whose skull was bashed in

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

where is your sympathy and understanding for the poor victim whose skull was bashed in

I have done as much for her as you have. Words in an English forum will not bring her back. None of us know the details, except that it's obvious the situation was complicated and sad all around.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

 he was worn out from looking after his wife.

The sick and old taking care of the sicker and old. I always hear about this.I just read the title and knew this was the reason.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Should bring in euthanasia law

1 ( +1 / -0 )

oldman_13 Thank you for the clarification regarding doctor assisted suicide. I assumed wrong.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Time to make other options legal? If (Big IF) I reach an age where I need constant help, I want the option of a quick exit. Jumping of a balcony isn't the best way, I don't like heights. Fully support euthanasia, of course with rules.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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