A father who for two years put up with his son's violent outbursts was given a three-year prison term on Friday for killing the 14-year-old with a baseball bat while he slept.

The Tokyo District Court ruled that Takeki Kagawa, a 53-year-old retired public official, suffered heavily for two years due to his son's violent behavior at home, but he should still have tried all possible measures -- including having his son committed to a hospital -- to avoid "the tragic ending."

"(Kagawa) must have suffered to a tremendous degree, facing his son's violence almost all by himself," presiding Judge Fumihiro Abe said. "But the victim had the potential to recover, considering his young age. Kagawa, therefore, should have made other efforts, though not easy, as a father who truly supports his son."