Obsession to care for disabled wife by himself led man to kill her

Extract from an article by Ikuko Abe from The Asahi

September 10 2023

JAPAN – A frail-looking man tearfully bowed to the judge who had just given him a scolding and a prison sentence.

The 82-year-old defendant on July 5 pleaded guilty to murdering his paralyzed, wheelchair-using wife by rolling her into the ocean.

It was a chilling act, and one with an unusual motive.

The death of the 79-year-old woman was not a mercy killing. The husband bore no ill-feelings toward her, nor did he feel overburdened by caring for her for about 40 years.

Instead, he stubbornly felt that he, and he alone, should be the one tending to the needs of his beloved partner, even when he became too weak to do the job.

His obsession grew so strong that he would rather see her die than let anyone else take care of her.

“This case is unlike typical cases of caregiver burnout,” the judge said.

Prosecutors pointed out that the defendant ignored the reality that it would be difficult to provide nursing care by himself. They said he committed the crime due to his self-centered motivation to take care of her until the end.

They sought a seven-year prison sentence.

Defense lawyers argued the defendant was under enormous mental strain at the time, and they requested a suspended sentence.

On July 18, the court sentenced the man to three years in prison without suspension for murder.

“He became unilaterally pessimistic about not being able to take care of the victim on his own,” Presiding Judge Noburo Kiyama said.

The judge noted that the defendant intentionally rejected support from others, ignored the victim’s feelings and committed the crime.

After handing down the sentence, Kiyama said: “I’m certain she wanted to live out her life. While you serve time, I want you to give serious thought about why this had to happen. I hope you will live the rest of your life in peace when you come back.”

The defendant bowed, shedding tears.

Both the prosecutors and the defense lawyers decided not to appeal the sentence, and the ruling was finalized.