Mom gets 15 years for baby starving death

The Japan Times
Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007
Source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20071218a4.html

SAPPORO (Kyodo) A woman was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday for starving her 1-year-old son to death by leaving him at home unfed for more than a month.

Yoshimi Yamazaki, 21, left her two sons, aged 5 and 1, unattended at her home in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, from Oct. 30 to Dec. 4, 2006, causing the younger son to starve, and then left his body at her boyfriend's home, according to the Muroran Branch of the Sapporo District Court.

The other son survived by eating uncooked rice and mayonnaise and ketchup from the refrigerator.

"Leaving behind the children unattended is a ruthless and cruel crime," presiding Judge Masaki Sugiura said. "The hunger and agony that these little brothers went through for such a long time is just beyond imagination."

Prosecutors had demanded 20 years in prison, while Yamasaki's lawyers had sought a lenient sentence, arguing, "Her unhappy upbringing and financial difficulties were behind the crime."

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Woman who abandoned infant sons to fend for themselves jailed for 15 years

The Mainichi Shimbun
December 17, 2007
Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20071217p2a00m0na028000c.html

MURORAN, Hokkaido -- A woman who gallivanted around with her lover after abandoning her two infant sons to fend for themselves -- the 1-year-old failed to do so -- was Monday jailed for 15 years by a court here.

The Muroran Branch of the Sapporo District Court found 21-year-old Yoshimi Yamazaki guilty of murder, neglect of parental responsibility and illegal disposal of a body.

"You cruelly premeditated the murder and gained your motive because you felt your children would interfere with plans for your lover," Presiding Judge Masaki Sugiura told Yamazaki as he handed down the sentence. "You were extremely malicious."

Court records showed that on about Oct. 30 2006, Yamazaki left her 3-year-old son and 1-year-old boy, Sora, in their apartment as she went out with her lover. She never returned and by Dec. 4, Sora had starved to death. She stuffed his body into a cardboard box and left it in a friend's storeroom in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. Her older boy survived by eating uncooked rice.

Sugiura said Yamazaki's actions had to be dealt with.

"It's impossible to ignore your actions at a time when child abuse has become a major problem for society," the judge said.

Prosecutors, who wanted Yamazaki jailed for 20 years, took a hard line against her.

"(Yamazaki) killed her son cruelly by starving him to death after a long period of subjecting him to pain and fear. She was selfish beyond belief, killing her own flesh and blood," a prosecutor said.

Defense lawyers, however, urged the court to show Yamazaki some leniency.

"She was struggling financially and had reached her limits bringing up the children alone," a defense lawyer said.

（Mainichi Japan） December 17, 2007