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Sankei Shimbun, July 11th, 2012

5-year-old son killed by suspected abuse
Man living together with mother arrested on suspicion of causing injury in Saitama

On July 10th, the Saitama Prefecture Asaka Police Department arrested the suspect Ayaka Kusakawa (23), the mother of the victim who lives in Mihara, Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture, and also the suspect Mitsuhiro Sakugawa (23) who is unemployed and living with her, on a charge of causing injury to the boy. According to the police, they accept the charge saying they hit the boy because the boy did not take to him.

According to the police, Ashita who was the suspect Kusakawa's eldest son and a preschooler, died on July 9th at the hospital to which he had been taken. Bruises were found on ten or more different places over the whole body and it is suspected that the victim was abused routinely. The police will perform a judicial autopsy to investigate the detailed cause of death, and the police are considering laying a charge of bodily injury resulting in death.

It is alleged that the suspect committed violence against the son including beating his face, hands and legs with a bar and his fists, resulting in injuries. The violence occurred at their home from around June 20th to July 8th.

Original article