Stepfather gets 13 years in prison over fatal child abuse

Just 13 years of imprisonment versus the lifetime he stole from this young girl. It's too lenient.

The only small consolation of this is the 13 years of hell hes going to get from the other inmates. I hope he likes the view from the bottom of the prison food chain

He is being sent to a Japanese prison, where the guards run things - not an American prison, where the prisoners rule.

Though one would think sterilization and a court order forbidding him contact with children would be appropriate for his release.

He tortured this little girl over a long period causing her eventual death. It is murder of the most sickening kind. It should have been a life sentence.

"The only small consolation of this is the 13 years of hell hes going to get from the other inmates."

Vince Black: clearly you do not understand the correctional system here. As Commanteer has indicated, this is not America.

At least it's not just a tap on the wrist...

I would still be curious to know the reasoning of the judge. You can argue about the length of the sentence, but I don't see any reason to give less than the maximum.

Not a very long sentence but I guess it's long for the Japanese judicial system. I'm glad the wife didn't get off easy. I hope they both feel remorse for what they did and find a way to rehabilitate themselves to be better human beings.

 I hope they both feel remorse for what they did

Ehhh yeah...don't count on it. Nobody with even a bit of a heart would be able to do what they did. Lower than the lowest scum of the earth.

This is an OUTRAGE!! I pray GOD curse all their living days and punish their actions eternally. Poor little angel begging for mercy and compassion and this is how the useless judiciary system responds!

They should do what this guy did to that poor girl while he is locked up.

Occasionally feed him bananas. Wake him at random hours of the morning to yell incomprehensible and irrational things at him.

It should be at least 25yrs sentence. Japanese judicial system is a JOKE!

I fail to understand the justice of this sentence for torture and murder of a defenseless little girl. 9 years? 13 years? This should be a life long sentence. What is the value of life to this court? How did they come to this decision? 9+18/2? What a farce.

They should have both been given life for what they did to that poor little girl.

Good rest her soul.

What a pittance of a sentance. Japanese judicial system strikes again. The only small consolation of this is the 13 years of hell hes going to get from the other inmates. I hope he likes the view from the bottom of the prison food chain

This "creature" that killed his step Daughter should have got the "death penalty" for this Murder!

Why no death penalty?

Which is the bigger crime? What he did to that poor little angel, or what the courts did to her?

the defense had argued that a nine-year term would be appropriate.

Those people need to be fired.

Rest in peace, little angel.

Those people need to be fired.

That is what a defense lawyer does, fight for their client to get a lesser sentence no matter how heineous the crime may be. Why do they need to be fired?

Life sentence should be given and burn in hell !

13 yrs but left us wondering if hard labor came with that.

Killing children is a heinous crime in any country. In 1st world countries that nary have a population replacement rate, the untimely death of a child is just taken too lightly.

This bozo got 13 years for snuffing out the flame of a future productive Japanese citizen. For this, he & all others committing this crime should/must receive the Death Penalty.

It’s the only way to deal with these intransigents.

Absolutely heart rending.

Weak Japanese justice system values innocent and defenseless children's lives so poorly.

What they should do upon news of such cases:

Hand the perpetrators either mandatory death sentence or mandatory life in prison sentence, shame them by splashing their faces all over the country. Prime Minister flanked by Minister of Justice and other big wigs address the nation getting the message out in no uncertain terms to every would be violent abuser: 'Violently abuse a child and we will deal with you so severely you will suffer terribly!'. Post information of such penalties at every maternity ward, children's clinic, etc.

Also, provide mandatory child raising lessons for first time parents. Teach them how to cope with stress, crying babies, etc.

Sick to my stomach at reading of the terrible suffering of such children. Poor little one. May God care for you.

concerned citizen:

Hand the perpetrators either mandatory death sentence or mandatory life in prison sentence, shame them by splashing their faces all over the country.

We have seen there faces. And harsher punishment does not bring back the victim. What definitely should be done is give the welfare services more power in case of suspected child abuse. The mother just told them to go away when they tried to check up on the child, and so they did. That should never have happened.

@WilliB

What definitely should be done is give the welfare services more power in case of suspected child abuse. The mother just told them to go away when they tried to check up on the child, and so they did. That should never have happened.

Agreed.