Mom nabbed for neglecting daughter who died of pneumonia

The Mainichi Shimbun
May 2, 2008
Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080502p2a00m0na013000c.html

KYOTO -- A mother has been arrested for neglecting her daughter who died of pneumonia, police said.

Mami Kamioka, 26, an unemployed woman from Yawata, Kyoto Prefecture, stands accused of negligence as a guardian resulting in death over the demise of her 4-year-old daughter Mana. Kamioka has denied the allegations.

"I didn't take her to a hospital because I thought I would be suspected of having abused her. I didn't think she would die," Kamioka was quoted as telling police.

Mana had become weak and couldn't walk and her mother failed to seek treatment for her in early February while they stayed with a 23-year-old male acquaintance of Kamioka, according to prefectural police. Mana was eventually diagnosed with pneumonia and died on the night of Feb. 12.

Mana weighed only 10.2 kilograms at the time of her death, while an average child aged 4 1/2 years old weighs around 16.5 kilograms. The victim was also found to have sustained several bruises on her thighs and had suffered a brain hemorrhage.

(Mainichi Japan) May 2, 2008