crime

Woman arrested for putting plastic bag over 3-year-old son's head

37 Comments

A 25-year-year-old unemployed woman in Kobe has been arrested for allegedly trying to suffocate her 3-year-old son by putting a plastic shopping bag over his head, police said Wednesday.

According to TV Asahi, the woman -- identified as Madoka Sakurai -- put the plastic bag on her son's head and then dragged him along the floor in their apartment in Tarumi Ward at around 6:30 p.m. on Monday night, police were quoted as saying. After about 40 minutes, Sakurai called 119 and reported that her son had lost consciousness, TV Asahi said.

Sakurai was quoted by police as saying she got angry with her son after he vomited. She said she had asked him to throw up in the garbage bin but he had not, so she lost her temper and wanted to teach him a lesson, TV Asahi said. But she denied any intent to kill the boy.

Besides her son, Sakurai lives with her 25-year-old husband and her 2-year-old daughter. The husband was out at the time of the incident, TV Asahi said.

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37 Comments
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I think that the kid didn't deserve it when the kid is throwing up then maybe he is sick and needs some medicine and not for her to snap and put a plastic back on his head and drag him around for 40 minutes until he lost consciousness.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Another "I wanted to teach my kid a lesson." Short fuse on that parent. Dragged her kid around for 40 minutes. Maybe she wanted to be arrested, one way to get out of parenting two kids. Probably, the son talked back to her, you know gave her some lip. Then the lights were on but everybody left the building. She snapped,then her other personality stepped in and decided she needed some time off.

Sure, everyone here including me doesn't condone voilence against children. But, I don't see the problem ending anytime soon. Realistically, there'll be another one. Sad and unfortunate.

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@NeverSubmit i agree with you!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Tumbledry... LOL... let's ask the news reporter who wrote this and the editor why?

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what is wrong with this woman. i mean scolding the child for not listening to you is one thing ( and in this particular situation is what she should have done), but putting a plastic bag on her son's head and dragging him across the floor... that is just plain idiotic.

But she denied any intent to kill the boy

i don't buy this for one second. if she really did not intend to kill him, the worst she could have done was spank him, not suffocate him until he lost consciousness.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@neversubmit These kind of stories are important. Japan needs to do more to protect children. When enough people get pissed off or die maybe something will finally get done. And yes losing one's temper does happen at times. But most of us don't take our anger out on our kids. I agree with other peoples posts. Japan needs to educate kids on what kind of punishment is and is not appropriate because it seems that many young parents have no clue.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Seriously, do these kinds of parents lack common sense or are they just stupid? Of COURSE putting a bag over your kid's head for a prolonged period of time is going to make him pass out, and what the hell kid of lesson would that teach the kid anyway? That mommy might try to kill him if he makes a mess? Ugh, use your brain. I get irritated when my baby won't stop crying or throws up on himself but y'know what, I deal with it since I'm supposed to be the adult.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

NeverSubmit - Losing one's temper is part of life and it happens to all of us.

You say what!!! Speak for yourself!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

She said she had asked him to throw up in the garbage bin but he had not

As if he had any control over when he vomits. What a cruel and stupid woman!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

....unemployed? really, how many unemployed people are there in japan? omg its such a shock! is she the only one?! (sarcasm) very uneeded informaiton to tell the whole world shes unemployed. why not tell us her hair color and bra size while your at it. >8(

but for the woman, she should be properly punished.. that was attempt at murder.. and yet they only took it as 'oh i didint try to kill him' lady grow up, you cant handle the children. you disapoint and both sicken me.....thou it does make me wonder why he japanese are so leniant as to let the children suffer and barely punish the adults..

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What a stupid mother!! A plastic bag over the little boy's head?? What an idiot!!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

what's strange about being 25 years old and unemployed? men are supposed to bring in the dough.

what a sexist view.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This young mother seems to be demonized by this article.

Losing one's temper is part of life and it happens to all of us. I hope the judge takes that into consideration and I hope she never does anything like that again.

May her family recover from this and live in happiness.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

I second Disillusioned's endorsement of the Green book. Thirty years on, I don't think what he has to say has gone out of date - very down to earth, with a touch of humour, if i remember rightly. I found it a great help.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Why label her "unemployed"?? We have two, and it ain't no picnic or walk in the park. It's a 24/7 full time - no exceptions job. But loosing your head over a vomit, THAT'S a bit extreme! What!?? she can't handle a little mess and clean afterwards?? We got bigger problems to sweat....food, clothing, medicine, schooling, clubs (if any)!! Geez, I can't stand how these press writers keep decorating stories with nonsense words!!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

For all those parents that feel they are gonna lose it I recommend you read 'Toddler Tamin' by Dr. Christopher Green. You will find that, the problem is not your kids, it is the way you deal with them. I read it some thirty odd years ago and learned more about myself than kids.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I only got 1 kid and feel like that at times, same for dealing with the spouse. Never did though just for the record.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I've got three kids. Oldest are twins and believe you me, I've been on that edge where I've had to just walk out of the room and calm down quite a few times. What kind of person or what kind of living circumstance makes it okay to do this kind of stuff to children? The terror the boy must have felt. I just hope hope that social services closely monitor this family. Enforced parenting classes wouldn't go amiss either. Even in my most stressed out moments, I would never think to behave like that. Seriously, what do some folk think parenting is about? If you can't deal with a bit of vomit, don't become a parent!

-1 ( +1 / -3 )

@Disillusioned

"Ah, parenting prowess at its best! There is a serious need for some sort of parental education in Japan. No wonder 30% of the populace grow up to have some sort of emotional or mental disorder. Some of the stories I hear about parenting an disciplining in Japan are spine chilling."

you can say that again!

(CIPT)

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Siple solution; don't have kids :-)

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Ah, parenting prowess at its best!

There is a serious need for some sort of parental education in Japan. No wonder 30% of the populace grow up to have some sort of emotional or mental disorder. Some of the stories I hear about parenting an disciplining in Japan are spine chilling.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

what's strange about being 25 years old and unemployed? men are supposed to bring in the dough.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

lol wow...i get p'off when i see vomit as well. hate vomit

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

So the article is subliminally telling us that wives should find jobs to achieve family bliss?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I personally want her to feel massive amount of physical pain shortly followed by emotional pain. This bitch makes me feel sick with anger.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

ThaiGirl, I understand what you are trying to say, and I agree. But thanks for the morning chuckle.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

She is 25 years old and unemployed? How does she support her 2 children and husband? No wonder she is frustrated. Of course this doesn't excuse the suffocation of her son. I have a strange but firm belief that vomitting is a sign that someone is not feeling well, so punishment seems a strange way to help them. Especially a 3 year old. Maybe she is not feeding them healthy food, which may also account for her inability to think clearly.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Agreed what does her employment status have to do with anything. I often think that Japanese news writers cannot fathom the fact that ordinary "good Japanese" sometimes do terrible things. So they have to create new boxes to put people in who do something wrong.

So the hard working salaryman becomes the poor performing psycho. Or the mom who cracks and harms a child becomes and unemployed 25 year old.

Japanese people need to stop trying to put every little thing in to tidy boxes. The world just isn't like that people. The sooner you learn to accept that the world is complex and fluid, the sooner you can start dealing with your social issues properly.

But I guess it is easier to box up the defectives separately and keep spending all that money on pretending everything here is perfect. Denial is a powerful thing.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"But she denied any intent to kill the boy." why because in Manga they survive it, get those kids away from that wackjob!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

A 25-year-year-old unemployed woman Funny, she is married with kids. If she was a good mom, she'd be called a housewife. You know, the women that stay home, look after their kids, don't have jobs, get a huge tax break from the j-government to encourage them to stay home....

So I'm going to guess she was let go, jr is home with mom and she'll get a suspended sentence if charged at all?? Pathetic. Cue chimes of "Japan needs to do something of their child welfare laws".

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The father was out at the time (6:30 pm, Monday).

So he was working?

I too wonder why she's referred to as "unemployed"

-2 ( +1 / -2 )

A woman who has 2 kids is not "unemployed". If done properly, parenting is one of the most important jobs there is.

Madoka Sakurai, you're FIRED!

Take both those babies away, before one of them is killed!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

MONSTER mothers. And people wonder why Left Behind Parents are fighting to gain access to their children.

Mommy is mentally unstable, unfit, virtually bipolar in every way, yet Social Services allows her to keep children. I bet this woman is out shopping right now.

1 ( +4 / -2 )

A 25-year-year-old unemployed woman in Kobe

What does "unemployed" have anything to do with the story? Maybe they should specify the shoe size too. Just in case.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

and dragging the kid around was suppossed to do what? What a moron!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Im with u NEVER.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Why are these types of stories being ushered into headline news.

Does this have any bearing on the general public?

0 ( +6 / -6 )

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