Mother arrested for trying to kill 16-year-old son by setting fire to house

Japan Today -- Mar 31

Police in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, have arrested a 46-year-old woman on suspicion of arson and attempted murder after she set fire to her house in order to kill her 16-year-old son.

According to police, flames were seen coming from the family home at around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Fuji TV reported. The suspect, Junko Yamabe, lives in the wooden house with her 47-year-old husband, 18-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son.

Police said all the family members got out of the house before the fire destroyed the second floor. The daughter called 119 to report the fire and 10 fire trucks were mobilized.

Yamabe’s husband and daughter suffered no injuries, while her son suffered burns to his arms, police said.

Police said Yamabe has admitted starting the fire by setting fire to some clothing and quoted her as saying she wanted to kill her son but gave no motive.

Mar 31 (ANNnewsCH) - 28日未明に埼玉県草加市で16歳の長男を殺害する目的で自宅に放火したとして、46歳の母親が殺人未遂の疑いで逮捕されました。  山家順子容疑者は午前0時すぎ、一家4人が住む草加市の自宅に火を付けて16歳の長男を殺害しようとした疑いが持たれています。長男は手をやけどする軽傷です。警察によりますと、18歳の長女から「家が燃えている」と通報があり、消防車など10台が出動しました。この住宅には山家容疑者と夫(47)、長女、長男の一家4人が住んでいて、2階の一部が焼けましたが、夫と長女は避難してけがはありませんでした。山家容疑者は「自宅内にあった衣類に火を付けた」「息子を殺すつもりで家に火を付けた」と容疑を認めています。