A man has lodged an appeal with a high court after being sentenced last month to 16 years in prison for physical abuse that led to the death of his 10-year-old daughter, a local court official said Wednesday.
Yuichiro Kurihara, 42, was found guilty on March 19 of causing the death of his daughter Mia in January last year by depriving her of sleep and nutrition at their family home in Noda, Chiba Prefecture. The appeal was filed with the Tokyo High Court on Tuesday.
According to the ruling by the Chiba District Court, Kurihara also forced Mia to stand in the bathroom while he showered her with cold water some time between Jan. 22 and 24, 2019. The case "surpasses previous incidents in its maliciousness," the lower court ruled.
Kurihara denied most of the allegations during the trial. Prosecutors had sought an 18-year term, arguing that he repeatedly abused Mia over an extended period, while the defense team said her death was a result of excessive discipline and that Kurihara did not abuse her on a daily basis.
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Man gets 16-yr prison term over fatal abuse of daughter
