Mom dead, son arrested; he admits daily assaults

The Yomiuri Shimbun

OSAKA--A man arrested in Daito, Osaka Prefecture, on Tuesday on suspicion of inflicting bodily injury on his 76-year-old mother, who was declared dead on Monday, said he slapped her almost every day to treat her dementia, police said.

Koshin Matsumoto, 50, is suspected of hitting his mother in the head and pinching her arms at 2 p.m. Sunday at their home, according to Shijo-Nawate Police Station.

She was rushed to a hospital on Monday, where she was confirmed dead. She died of shock caused by bleeding from ruptured organs and bruises, the police said.

Matsumoto was quoted by police as saying he had slapped his mother every day since April to prevent her dementia from worsening.

He said he became angry and struck his mother when she fell asleep after he had told her to read a newspaper, police said.