Woman arrested for stabbing husband as he slept

Kawanishi has admitted to the charge and was quoted by police as saying she wanted to kill her husband because she had been subject to physical abuse from him several days earlier.

I'll bet that it wasn't the first time that she was abused either. But come on, you are 48 years old, you should know that a fruit knife to the gut is not going to kill anyone either.

She may have "wanted" to kill him, but when it comes down to actually "doing" it, it's a hell of a lot harder.

I hope she gets the help she needs, and him too!

That's divorce Japan style! That's a kind of mental illness in Japan. People just don't think and react solely on emotion. She was abused by him so she tried to kill him. Now, she is the one facing criminal charges. Think before you act!

That its "Japan's problem" is a bit ridiculous dissillusioned.

Its a worldwide problem called spousal violence.

It could have ended A LOT worse. Think Loreena Bobbit...

That's a kind of mental illness in Japan. People just don't think and react solely on emotion.

Yeah, why can't people in Japan be like in other countries where they never react based on emotion, and never have incidents like this?

She makes an allegation and you all take it as truth. All violence is wrong.

When I read the story, I had to count myself as fortunate because my ex-wife showed up to the bedroom with a knife in her hand. Fortunately, nobody got stabbed.

sleeping at 9am would suggest he might have been drinking. her accusation of domestic violence and a drunk husband sound plausible. but as @maiku said, no violence is acceptable. society should have help for domestically abused so this doesn't happen.

I think physical abuse would have worked in her favor as far as a divorce settlement would have gone. Instead he continues to do what he wants while she goes to jail.

sleeping at 9am would suggest he might have been drinking.

What? I almost never drink, and I sleep past 9 on the weekends all the time.

Pretty flawed logic there.

I used to work the door of some tasty places in London and i've been stabbed 3 times all no life threatening but trust me the most painful was the one in the gut by fare. My point being if she wanted to inflict pain and not death she stabbed him in a very painful spot.

she had been subject to physical abuse from him several days earlier

It will be tough to use the "self defense" defense so long after the fact.

@ Dan Lewis - I feel your pain bro. My ex used to punch me in my sleep (and other times when I wasn't looking), glad she didn't think of using a knife.

A fruit knife isn't exactly a murder weapon of choice.

That's divorce Japan style! That's a kind of mental illness in Japan. People just don't think and react solely on emotion.

It's a global thing.

@MaikuCToday

She makes an allegation and you all take it as truth. All violence is wrong.

Unfortunately, many people don't "believe" such things happen... I can vouch that they do... and of course, all violence is wrong.

I went through several counseling sessions after my ex later threatened to kill me, then made an attempt. During one of those sessions, they told me the ratio of domestic violence victims was close to 60% women, and 40% men. But men were more likely not to report it (like me) out of shame.

Her story would be a lot more believable had she called the police for these supposed abusive moments AND stabbed him the same day/night as one occurred. Days later gives her time to cool off, plan, etc.

Her story would be a lot more believable had she called the police for these supposed abusive moments AND stabbed him the same day/night as one occurred. Days later gives her time to cool off, plan, etc.

Many/most victims of DV are too scared (or ashamed etc) to report the abuse so not stabbing him nor reporting the abuse on the day it occurred is nothing new. I think her story is 'believable' but it doesn't make stabbing the dude while he was asleep the right thing to do, DV or not.

Up to coppers to determine who's telling the truth and the extent of DV (if any) and its impact on the woman (read a few stories where women killed their hubby/partner while asleep and successfully pleaded self defence. It's called battered woman/wife syndrome or something like that).

@goldorak it is true a lot of actual DV goes unreported. The problem is false allegations of DV cloud the issue. Based on the little information in the article you can not assume either way. It could be a lie to lessen her actual crime or maybe the stabbing was a cry for help.

Her story would be a lot more believable had she called the police for these supposed abusive moments AND stabbed him the same day/night as one occurred. Days later gives her time to cool off, plan, etc.

Because domestic abuse has such an orderly, rigorously controlled schedule? The victim may not know from one minute to the next what's going to happen; living in fear.

What abuse? Maybe he stab her somewhere a few days earlier.

A lot of stories, like the ones about abused children being killed, suggest that Japanese authorities are passive when it comes to trouble within the family. I would like to think that the Japanese police will be able to establish what has been going on between this couple and whether there is any truth in the wife's allegation, but I doubt they have the skills or experience in dealing with family situations.