Dad gets 11 years for son's death in garbage can (Tokyo, Japan)

Dad YOSHIHIRO KANNO has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for suffocating his 2-year-old son in a garbage can. This child basically endured torture--being forcefed deodorizer and cigarette butts, placed in ovens and washing machines. And he has the nerve to say he did so on his wife's order. Really? I don't believe that for a minute. And you were incapable of saying "iie" (no)?

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20100220TDY02302.htm

Dad gets 11 yrs for son's death in garbage can
The Yomiuri Shimbun

The Tokyo District Court on Thursday sentenced a man to 11 years in prison for suffocating his 2-year-old son by confining him in a garbage can.

Prosecutors had called for Yoshihiro Kanno, 35, to receive 12 years in prison. They argued during the lay judge trial that 52 injuries were found on the body of his son, Yui, apparently the result of abuse. In addition to trying to make Yui eat deodorizer and cigarette butts, Yoshihiro also put him in an oven and a washing machine and briefly turned them on, they said.

Prosecutors told the court Yoshihiro put Yui into a garbage can at about 4 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2008, covered the bin with a plastic bag and tied an elastic cord around it. Yoshihiro left Yui inside the can until he found the boy dead that evening, prosecutors said.

The defense insisted Yoshihiro abused the boy only because he was asked to by his wife, Rika, 35, who also is accused of suffocating the boy. However, the court's ruling said Yoshihiro admitted he abused the boy because he was angry. No matter what the reason, Yoshihiro played an important role in the boy's murder, the ruling said.

Wife's testimony was sought

All six lay judges in the trial attended a press conference after the court was adjourned.

Neither prosecutors nor the defense called Rika as a witness--instead the deposition she gave during the investigation of the case was read out in court. Lay judge Masahiko Kanda, 45, said he wanted to directly hear from Rika, because her deposition differed from Yoshihiro's testimony on some points.

There reportedly was a request during deliberations to hear from Rika.

Lay judge Hiroshi Seiki, a 60-year-old photographer, said: "I suppose [Yoshihiro] started the abuse half in sport. I thought it was frightening that an adult bullied someone like a child."

(Feb. 20, 2010)