crime

Oita woman arrested for allegedly beating 4-year-old son to death

49 Comments

Police said Saturday they have arrested a 37-year-old woman from Beppu, Oita Prefecture, for allegedly beating to death her 4-year-old son.

The boy was found dead on Friday at the home of the woman, who has been identified as Rie Kinjo, Fuji TV reported. The boy had apparently been beaten to death. Police allege that Kinjo carried out a sustained series of assaults on her son, Shuma, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday, Fuji reported.

During police questioning, Kinjo reportedly told investigators that she punched the child in the head and chest and hit him with a plastic umbrella to discipline him after he wet himself. She said that when she woke up on Friday, her son was dead, Fuji reported.

Police said that Kinjo, who is unemployed, lived with her partner, Shuma and another younger son.

Meanwhile, NHK quoted police as saying that multiple marks and bruises were present on Shuma's body at the time of his death and that there remains a strong possibility that he was subject to other forms of mistreatment. An autopsy is to be carried out to establish the exact cause of death.

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49 Comments
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Not that it makes any difference, but isn't "Kinjo" an Okinawan name? Maybe the fact that she was far from home added to her stress. A very sad story indeed. RIP little one.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@timtak

The rate of violent crime is about ten times less in Japan than it is in the USA on average

.

Is the city of Oita in America? Rates of violence in America have probably dropped 90 percent since Obama was elected, because crime in America is directly linked to poverty and our president has redistributed the wealth.It's different now.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

what a sick, pathetic excuse for a human. I hope her son died in his sleep, even if he died from the sustained injuries at least in sleep it would have just been him slipping away from this world, not spending his last few hours in intense pain..

I almost never see this in America, why just this past Friday a Women Struck the Child of one of my friends and she beat the crap out of the woman. a loving parent she is.

R.I.P poor 4 year old boy who barely got to live

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They should publish an annual list eulogizing kids that have died at the hands of their parents/guardians and place their mug shots along with the stories. People need to wake up and see that while yes this does happen in other countries, the frequency with which it happens in Japan is alarming.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@ TMarie As stated, no one knows why she did it, but more times at the trial to find out if they are guilty or crazy, the defense tries to tie traumatic times of life to current situations to get a lighter sentence. Also, in all the posts on JT, most stories of women killing their children either physical or through neglect have been in their 20's and 30's. Fact, most have had a lame excuse that like their children were at fault or they just didn't want to be a parent any more, or better yet, their boyfriend didn't want to have children. The results are all the same, a helpless child losses their life and no one really knows why they did it. This also goes for fathers, stepfathers, or male companions that have decided to shorten the life of the helpless children. Needless events that make the news. RIP to all that have been the victims of these unstable criminals. (yes, I said criminals not parents)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Very sad but "scum"? Is there any chance that the mother was suffering from post natal depression after the birth of her younger child? The younger child was 11 months old. There is an attempt to create a law in Texas to drastically reduce punishments to mothers who commit infanticide in such cases within 12 months of birth. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-m-appel/when-infanticide-isnt-mur_b_279703.html "Should jurors conclude that a mother's "judgment was impaired as a result of the effects of giving birth or the effects of lactation following the birth," they would be permitted to convict her of the crime of infanticide. Unlike murder, which is a capital offense in Texas, the felony of infanticide would carry a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My son aged 5 wet the bed this morning. Did I get angry? Nope. I got him cleaned up and changed, gave him a big hug and told him it is going to happen from time to time until his body gets used to it, and praised him for all the days recently that he HASNT wet himself.

And all this as Debbie Itabashi says - living in a foreign country, dealing with blah blah blah, with for added fun a youngest who woke up about 10 times last night, leaving me knackered and unable to recover from the cold I caught at the weekend.

So no, snapping is no excuse for me at all either. An uncalled for whack is snapping and losing it for a second (to be regretted and apologised for later with lots of cuddles) - not saying it is a good thing but it is understandable. But a sustained attack lasting all day and resulting in death - ths is not snapping, this is murder, pure and simple. And not even heat of the moment murder.

That little one must have come to his Mum pleading and saying sorry only to have been given another bashing, over and over. It breaks my heart and it is why I fully support someone beating the crap out of her. It doesnt make me vindictive, it makes me human. And for scum like this, it seems to be the only language they understand.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not easy being a mother let alone being a single mother! Japan must help mothers!! Too many Japanese husbands are arrogant and lazy dumping all the house work on their wives and then we have women who do snap!! Very ver scary but if this stupid government really cared they would have free baby sitters etc..to help mothers relax a bit and get rid of that pent up stress.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is so sad on so many levels. The same age as my child. How on earth can someone do this????? The one person in this world who you should be able to trust beats you to death. For doing what????For wetting himself!!!!! Perhaps this woman should have bought a cat instead of having a child. I dearly hope this child comes back to haunt her for eternity. RIP little one.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

tmarie - Why do women snap? Easy. You try staying home with a baby and a four year old 24/7 with no support or help.

Nope! Sorry, I can't accept that as an excuse. If they can't handle parenthood they should keep their legs together! This is not related to any sort of tension or stress. People who commit these kinds of incidents are just plane nuts and should be locked up! I just hope the other little tacker is taken away from her.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

So many victims of mentally ill and incompetent parents...sad!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Murder is murder. Whether the mother 'snapped' or not - she murdered this 4 year old. If its stress and she lost it, then she should be committed and helped. If its otherwise, well then all those people out there in the world shouldnt go to prison for murdering someone then - if she doesnt have too ... murder is murder. I have a 4 year old (she is not my only child), I live in Japan, my family is far away, my husband works an average of 18 hour days 7 days a week plus due to economy the company reduced his annual pay by 4 months worth, I also am not a fluent Japanese speaker - yet I deal with schools, neighbors, shopping, bills, budgeting, hospitals, the day to day - on my own.... This woman has no excuses .... Murder is Murder!

I personally think that if teenagers took baby sitting jobs they would learn a bunch of skills needed to be a good parent. I know I did. Its a shame that this culture coddles their teens from most responsibilities from most everything - other than school.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

women who have kids by mistake will get rid of the kid. she already has another kid, why would she want anymore ? . especialy when she is out of work.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

it done happened agaain! Another parent beats/kills them child and same people here making a same comment

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

the only way to cope with situations is to emulate the parents.

I don't think it is a way of coping - I think they just assume it is what is done as that was the model they had growing up.

Are they ready to make the commitment as a parent after 34 years of being independent? No one knows. Are you suggesting that older parents are worse because of age? You might actually want to look into the studies on this as from the ones I have read, older parents are less likely to abuse their kids. More mature, more aware and more patience. Sadly, not the case for everyone but I comparing your average 24 year old mom and 34 year old mom, I would go with the 34 year old mom being better at it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is stories like these that upset folks a lot.

RIP to the four year old child.

He was murdered by his mother for being a child. I am worried about how the younger sibling has been treated by the mother and do not understand how her "partner" did not get involved to stop any abuse that may have happened in their presence. Until the investigation is complete, no one will know the story or the background. Most times abusive mothers like this one had been abused as a child, the only way to cope with situations is to emulate the parents. Other issues may be having a child after the magic 30 year old mark. Are they ready to make the commitment as a parent after 34 years of being independent? No one knows.

One thing for sure is this woman is not a suitable parent to raise her own children without extreme supervision 24 hours a day. It could of been worse, she could of had a job at a day care/pre-school and abused other children that wet their pants. Something to think about in the big picture of things.

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I know japanese don't hurt animals, flowers and even insects .

You obviously don't live in Japan if you think this is true.

Why do women snap? Easy. You try staying home with a baby and a four year old 24/7 with no support or help. While you're doing that, deal with the cooking, the cleaning, shopping... Japan doesn't support mothers. "Years ago" they had family and community support. Now? Not much. For all we know, this women lived away from her family and had no friends. 24/7 with two kids and no break? Recipe for a mom to snap. Add in that this country doesn't exactly have stellar child abuse laws nor a lot in terms of mentally ill support and well, dead kids. Certainly not just a Japanese problem ut many other countries either have better family support, community support or outlets for these moms.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

In the states, when an adult started to discipline a child in a public place such as in a grocery store, department store the people around will take an interest and interfere. The store employee or another shopper calls the cops to report a child is being assaulted. Guess in this stagnant economy where everyone is struggling to survive and practically no one knows their neighbor, a child crying out or a "mother" belting her child doesn't merit a "gomenkudasai, what's going on?"

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@ITS ME - I dont see a single person condemning "Japan" over this or claiming it happens any more often here than in other countries so why the defensiveness?

I hate all parents who do this to their children regardless of where they are from, and would like to see them all burn in hell.

And dentshop - if you cant see the difference between beating an innocent 4 year old little boy to death, and wanting to beat the 37 year old perpetrator who should have been the one person in the world he should have been able to turn to for unconditional love to tech her a lesson then I feel sorry for you.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

We should stop and reflect on the value of life! Our children are treasures to be loved to protected not to hurt them like this idiot fool woman down in Kyushu. Maybe her parents also abused her as a young child?? Violence is so wrong! How can we stop this??

2 ( +2 / -0 )

RIP little boy. So much sympathy for you..... what could be worse than being beaten by your own mother. So sad.... and so much hatred for these damned parents.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I'm 100% sure that not ALL mothers in Japan would do such attrocity, but yes, there are some who would.

I hope with all my heart, mind and soul that this piece of subhuman SMEGMA feels so guilty about what she did that the last thing she does is hang herself somewhere around Tojimbo as she should. Her life is NOT worth it.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

She is one of those tick tick boom people. she knew what she was doing and did not care. Prison sentences for murder need to be really long for this type of thing RIP lil one.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Karma?? Karma is not only happening to Japan, the whole world, the whole universe has KARMA my dear Bajhistas65, but this is not the place nor the time to try and educate people about karma, IMHO. Now time to let this evil mother HANG!! Apply the death penalty ASAP!! RIP little baby boy.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I have been reading a lot here about mothers killing their child and I find it very alarming by the rate of this brutal actions. I don't understand what influences this women to kill her own flesh and blood brutally with just a simple reason of disciplining the child. I know japanese don't hurt animals, flowers and even insects . So why the hell this brutal acts happening frequently in Japan. Is KARMA happening to Japan.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Police said that Kinjo, who is unemployed, lived with her partner, Shuma and another younger son.

I hope that younger son is okay!

Also, "unemployed"? Interesting. Usually they call them housewives - and they get a tax break. I guess if you aren't married they make you look worse by calling you unemployed rather than shufu.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

DentShop... This woman beating to death her 4-year-old son versus an enraged person wanting to beat her? Don't understand why you can't see which one is worse. Yowzers!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

PS. I forgot to add that (although I no longer need it for "that" reason...) I still do it for myself ! It keeps my legs "in shape" !

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Horrible stuff... and almost on a daily basis of late. Little children wet themselves -- it's as much a fact of life as that babies will cry (like the one murdered the other day because it wouldn't stop at the father's demand). Sigh. RIP, little one. I hope the mother rots in prison and the surviving child is taking into social services and given to a loving family.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

When I saw the headline I assumed it was another young girl who didn't have a clue- jeez... got to wonder what the neighbours suspected but didn't want to get involved- poor little lad. How does this happen?? RIP.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

We just had a very similar case back home, I still read the newspapers off a few countries. Much of the news that people get upset about are published in many countries involving the locals.

RIP, small one.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I can see getting angry enough to slap or hit a four-year-old child once (I can see it but I would never condone it) but I can't believe anyone short of Stalin, Pol Pot, or that Texas judge would beat a child for eight or nine hours.

And she has a younger child? I hope just this once the court throws her in jail for a decade and sends her younger child to live with a relative. Give her ten years to think about what she did. Not that the Japanese courts will ever do that, of course. Just wishful thinking.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

would love to show this lady how HER son felt during those hours

So she beats her kid and you want to beat a 37 year old woman. Not sure which is worse.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Unfortunately, I don't believe Japanese mothers will read my post but just in case... (Could also be useful advice for "non-Japanese" young mothers !) NEVER punish a child because he/she wet themselves, it will only make matters worse. This may be difficult to do with "foutons" but if the child sleeps in a bed, try putting a brick under the feet at the end of the bed so that the legs are slightly higher than the head.

Can't hurt ! Might help !

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I am sickened yet again and would love to show this lady how HER son felt during those hours. The government does need to help these people, at least give them help before they snap like this and to promote safe sex. My 5 year old wets the bed nearly every day, I have been getting up at 3 am every day to take him to the toilet and/or change his wet sheets so that he doesn't spend more than a couple of hours in wet sheets. Yes it drives me mad and means my sleep pattern is screwed up BUT that is what a parent should do!! His older and younger brother don't wet their beds, and he is embarrassed but in this situation he's cleaned dried and HUGGED. Not beat a child for what is natural. RIP little one. It wasn't your fault.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

”During police questioning, Kinjo reportedly told investigators that she punched the child in the head and chest and hit him with a plastic umbrella to discipline him after he wet himself.”

Kids don't die from discipline.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

May he rest in peace away from this evil individual. I hate to say it, but with the massive and growing disparity between super rich and desperately impoverished people in Japan, incidents of this tragic nature may become more common. Certainly not making excuses though - and I am sincerely hoping the evil child killer is executed.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So the court will sort of look the other way because she has another child to care for (or beat up). And what's with the so called "partner"? She is unemployed, unmarried I presusume and other problems. We don't know yet if alcohol is involved. And I wouldn't doubt that he wet himself during her beatings. What an excuse for a human being.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Halogenic, why do we need the govt to teach us such basic and natural thing?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

That's what happening when children are considered to be the private property of their parents. Otherwise, these monster parents seem to be socially and psychologically stable and normal in everyday life, no alcohol or drug addiction.

These unfortunate little kids grow up in cold, soulless, loveless, hostile violent environment, as a result they suffer hidden, undiagnosed nervous breakdowns and will suffer from involuntary urination and nightmares that will be mercilessly penalized. Their self-esteem is absolutely crushed, display cognitive defects, diminished attention, memory and thinking together with serious behavior disorders, which enrages their ignorant rude parents further on who will take every weakness, natural young age problems, even illness for deliberate noncompliance that must be resolved through cruel disciplining.

If they those individuals who were subjected to home violence in their childhood survive somehow (not this unfortunate little one), growing into seemingly normal adults and will have their own family, they begin to treat their own children similarly by displaying sadistic habits.

That's how they were raised, that's what they have learn, that's their only conception of child raising. Even if they marry a nice healthy partner from a nice family, they will bring their wives/husbands down together with their children and the evil circle closes and go on and on getting bigger and setting new, lower standards each time.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The sad thing about this is, that it's probably going to happen again tomorrow to another little child. Then again the day after and so forth. The government should introduce an education program to teach parents that it's not okay to beat their kids, or leave them in the car while they spend six hours at the pachinko parlor.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I have seen cases like this with my own eyes in the train ... No one dared interfere...and the Mother kept beating the child.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

There's this big question that always comes to me when reading about these things; Why ?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

For the life of me, I can not understand what the heck these people are thinking! Why?? Why oh why kill an innocent little boy! RIP little boy same age as my little princess! Makes me sick to see this kind of horrible news!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

For the past several months, I have been reading about these Japanese mothers who are unfit to be a mother. I wonder why these women and their partners decided to become parents. Why assault your or your partner's child? Why do they think that's how to discipline a child?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

And, the beat goes on! (no pun intended)

How many of these do we read about every month? Too bloody many!!!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

May he haunt her forever. Especially when she's old and incontinent.

6 ( +6 / -1 )

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