*photo used for illustrative purpose*
42-year-old Akira Murayama of Tokyo has been arrested by the police for bullying and assaulting his 14-year-old stepson, even forcing him to commit suicide, a police source revealed.
According to the police investigation, Murayama regularly beat the child in the face, chest and other body parts because he had bad breath. One morning, the boy's mother found him hanging above his bed. The mother called for help, and the boy was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries. At the hospital, medical personnel found bruising all over the child's body.
The boy's mother told investigators that Murayama told the boy to kill himself within 24 hours. Murayama told the court that the child's mother also beat the boy.
Murayama admitted to beating the child, but denied telling the boy to commit suicide. He also admitted to forcing the child to wear a mask because of his bad breath. He has been sentenced to serve 6 years in prison after being convicted of assault in connection with the beating of the boy identified as Yuito.