crime

Parents get 7 years in prison for fatal abuse of 4-year-old daughter

26 Comments

A 32-year-old man and his 30-year-old wife have been sentenced to seven years in prison for fatally abusing their 4-year-old daughter in 2017 at their home in Ina, Saitama Prefecture.

The Saitama District Court handed down verdict Thursday against Yuki Iwai, who was self-employed, and his wife Masumi, who worked part-time. They were convicted of parental neglect resulting in the death of their daughter Kokoro, Fuji TV reported. Kokoro died from hypothermia on Dec 21, 2017, after her mother took her to a hospital.

Doctors found more than 10 bruises on her arms, legs and stomach. An autopsy also revealed that she had suffered malnutrition.

Prosecutors claimed that Kokoro’s parents, who were arrested in March 2020, had been underfeeding her from October 2017 and had subjected her to physical abuse on a regular basis from November, including hitting her on the back with a three-kilogram dumbbell.

Both parents had admitted to the charge and said they were trying to discipline their daughter at first to properly toilet train her.

In July of 2016, Kokoro was seen wandering by herself, crying, outside her home in the rain by a neighbor. The neighbor noticed bruises on the girl and notified a child welfare center. When an official later visited the home, Kokoro’s mother said her daughter had got the bruises when she fell over.

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26 Comments
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Well that's really shown them.....

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Should be 10 years. At 40 she can’t reproduce.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

I hate this standard 7 year sentence for child murder.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

They took a life. An innocent child's life. They should be given life.

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Prosecutors claimed that Kokoro’s parents, who were arrested in March 2020, had been underfeeding her from October 2017 and had subjected her to physical abuse on a regular basis from November, including hitting her on the back with a three-kilogram dumbbell.

3kg dumbbell??? 4yr old baby?? WTF???

In July of 2016, Kokoro was seen wandering by herself, crying, outside her home in the rain by a neighbor. The neighbor noticed bruises on the girl and notified a child welfare center. When an official later visited the home, Kokoro’s mother said her daughter had got the bruises when she fell over.

This is absolutely heartbreaking! I can't believe the welfare center returned her to these monsters

14 ( +14 / -0 )

It’s not long enough. They tortured this little girl for years.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

What?! No long drop?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I just came from reading the article on Japan's birthrate being at an all-time low and you know we can tack on cases like this as another reason for not having kids here. Look at how little they cherish and value their young dependents - a meager, pathetic 7-year prison sentence for the parents who purposely starved and beat their own flesh and blood to death? What kind of message is that sending to the people? These poor excuse for human beings should have gotten life. And chemically sterilized. Instead, they'll be out in less than a decade where they might have the chance to procreate. I hope they don't because I fear for that child if they do. Shame on the welfare workers as well for clearly not following up with this case.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Had it been up to me the sentence would have been 25 years, I fail to understand the need for such leniency.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Lethal injection because these people are monsters.

In 7 years they will be out.

And the poor murdered daughters name was Kokoro .

Heartless parents !

7 years is not enough.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Both Individuals should also be sterilized.

And it should be done without anesthesia.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

RodneyToday  07:01 am JST

Should be 10 years. At 40 she can’t reproduce.

Why can't she reproduce at 40?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Just 7 ???..

Deserve gallows..

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I hearby sentence you to 14 years in prison.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

7 years. Steal from a couple of convenience stores and you'd get half of that.

This makes me sick to my stomach. LIfe without parole.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Japanese judges follow sentencing formulae. Defendants who have never been in trouble before have higher chances for lower sentences or even suspended sentences. The Ministry of "Justice" has no incentive to change anything. But most Western countries have similar sentencing guidelines too, though the lengths for similar offenses will differ.

With 7 year sentences, they will be out in about five years with good behavior in prison. Definitely young enough to reproduce again and have another go at parenting.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This is so very sad I remember when this happened i felt like someone stuck a knife in my heart.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Wow only 7 years and they can return to a normal life and have kids and do the SAME THING AGAIN!!!!! Totally unbelievable they are lucky to be in Japan because they wouldn’t see one day in their cells alive in prison in the US. That’s a no no prisoners have rules and that is the worst reason to be in jail for molesting or killing a child. Once the guards leave the prisoner either kills his cell mate or be killed. Yes it’s crazy but that’s the rule.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Only 7 years for murder of a young child?

Should be 20 years each.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

7 years??? Should be 70!!!

how can animals like these who can torture a child be given such a light sentence? There is something definitely wrong with family related crime sentencing in Japan and the world for that matter. These animals will be out on the street in probably 4 or 5 years and able to do it all over again. At best they should be neutered!

RIP little one justice was not served…

3 ( +4 / -1 )

These animals are severely mentally disabled and should be kept under supervision the rest of their miserable lives.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

death penalty without wasting tax payer money to keep their life going on. at least they have 30 and 32 years of life and the girl ended at 7.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

SpeedFeb. 26  07:18 am JST

I hate this standard 7 year sentence for child murder.

That's a slap on the wrist. A kid, esp. at 4 years of age isn't capable of putting up a fight or even resisting. And I don't a FIG what the excuses are because there are none.

Aly RustomFeb. 26  07:48 am JST

They took a life. An innocent child's life. They should be given life.

Yes. That's enough time to rue about a life that never started, before they get their due in the next life.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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