In a high-profile case, Tokyo District Court sentenced 34-year-old Yudai Funato to 13 years in prison on Tuesday for physical abuse and neglect that led to the death of his 5-year-old stepdaughter, Yua, saying that his treatment of her went far beyond the bounds of disciplinary action.
Funato was accused of causing Yua's death from sepsis in March of last year. Funato allegedly restricted her food intake from late January last year, assaulted her and did not seek medical care despite her weakened state while at their home in Meguro Ward, Tokyo.
"Restricting food intake and violence were far removed from disciplining, and are unreasonable acts which were conducted based on his own emotion," the ruling at the Tokyo District Court said.