Key Facts
• January 5, 2025: Mother removed ventilator of 7-year-old daughter at home.
• Daughter suffered from spinal muscular atrophy, a government-designated rare disease.
• Mother charged with murder; trial held at Fukuoka District Court.
• July 18, 2025: Judge Kenji Ino issued a suspended sentence.
• Sentence: 3 years imprisonment, 5 years probation with supervision.
• Legal minimum for murder: 5 years imprisonment; prosecution sought 5 years.
• Judge cited over five years of day-and-night caregiving as a mitigating factor.
• Incident triggered by husband’s comment about caregiving burden.
• Judge noted severity of the act but emphasized rehabilitation over incarceration.
Summary
A mother in Fukuoka, Japan, received a suspended sentence for the murder of her 7-year-old daughter, who suffered from spinal muscular atrophy and required a ventilator to breathe. On January 5, 2025, the mother removed the ventilator, leading to her daughter’s death. The Fukuoka District Court, presided over by Judge Kenji Ino, sentenced her to three years in prison with a five-year probation period, below the legal minimum of five years for murder. The judge acknowledged the mother’s exhaustion from over five years of continuous caregiving and deemed rehabilitation and reintegration into society more appropriate than incarceration. The incident was reportedly triggered by a comment from the husband about the caregiving burden. While the court recognized the gravity of the act, it emphasized the mother’s dedication to her daughter’s care and the need for societal support in her recovery.
