OSAKA (TR) – A court docket right here on Friday handed a 42-year-old man an eight-year jail time period in reference to the dying of his niece and encasing of her corpse in concrete for almost twenty years, reviews the Sankei Shimbun (Mar. 13).
At the Osaka District Court, presiding choose Hiroki Ito described the crimes of Noriyuki Iimori as “heartless and malicious.”
Between December 2006 and January the next 12 months, Noriyuki Iimori, fatally beat and kicked his niece, 6-year-old Reina, within the face and physique at their then-residence in Hirano Ward, Osaka City. He then encased her physique in concrete and saved it for about 18 years.
“Strong condemnation”
The prosecution had sought a 12-year jail sentence for Iimori, whereas the protection argued {that a} time period of 4 years or much less was acceptable.
Iimori, who weighed 120 kilograms on the time of the incident, appeared in court docket trying roughly 40 kilograms lighter.
In its opening assertion, the prosecution mentioned that Iimori took Reina grew more and more annoyed together with her disobedience and started to bodily abuse her after taking cost of her in 2006.
On the day of the incident, Iimori grew to become enraged when Reina disobeyed his directions, resulting in her dying. The prosecution argued that “the consequences are serious and deserve strong condemnation.”
“I was terrified”
During the trial, the defendant admitted to allegations of manslaughter and abandoning a corpse. “I felt guilty for killing Reina and encasing her in concrete, and I was terrified of when the police would come,” he mentioned.
The protection argued that there was room for sympathy concerning the circumstances beneath which the defendant was compelled to lift Reina, however Judge Ito acknowledged that it couldn’t be mentioned that the defendant lacked the thought of consulting with others and searching for assist. Judge Ito mentioned, “the defendant’s insincerity in failing to do so is the background [to the incident].”
On the opposite hand, the choose identified that there was no proof of abuse, nor was there any neglect of care, reminiscent of failing to supply enough meals.
In handing down the ruling, the choose took into consideration that Iimori admitted to the fees and cooperated with the police investigation. He additionally confronted accountability and expressed regret in court docket, the choose mentioned.
Judge Ito mentioned Iimori “mercilessly attacked an innocent child, causing her death.” He went on to say that the defendant “undermined respect for a corpse in order to protect himself.”
“Precious child”
Born in 2000, Reina is the daughter of Iimori’s older sister. After some time, she started dwelling together with her grandfather, who’s Iimori’s father. But round September 2006, she was entrusted to the defendant, whom she adored, calling him “Papa.” By this time, her mom had left the house to work as a live-in maid to repay money owed.
The defendant was 23 years previous on the time. Unable to learn or write kanji, he was unemployed and lived together with his girlfriend Akari Shibata, who’s 5 years his junior. He described Reina as a “precious, precious child.” The defendant tried his finest to lift Reina, even shopping for her a cake for her sixth birthday in October of 2006.
However, he quickly started to seek out parenting troublesome, as issues didn’t all the time go as deliberate. One day, between December of that 12 months and the next January, he uncontrollably assaulted Reina at his then-residence in Hirano Ward, Osaka City after accusing her of mendacity, which resulted in her dying. At his father’s suggestion, he positioned her physique in a metallic clothes case and poured concrete over it.
Despite having left residence, Reina’s mom hadn’t utterly lower ties with the household. She met with the defendant and Reina’s grandfather each few months, handing them garments and items ready for Reina. She additionally made money funds as much as 800,000 yen every time as baby assist.
Since the defendant didn’t disclose to her mom that Reina was useless, this continued till round 2018. “I want to see her,” her mom mentioned. “I want a picture.” However, the defendant refused every time.
Left behind
Over the years, Iimori transported Reina’s physique between a number of residences in Yao City utilizing a cart.
The incident emerged on February 25, 2025, after the supervisor of an condo constructing in Yao reported that the earlier occupant had left behind the metallic clothes case.
Iimori’s father had lived alone within the unit. However, moved out to enter a facility.
Shibata is at the moment on trial for abandoning a corpse. The defendant’s grandfather was referred to prosecutors on suspicion of abandoning a corpse, however was not indicted.