Accused of killing her 5-year old son, a mother of four has been put on trial in Tokyo, Japan.

Under the influence of alcohol and sedatives, 42-year old Shizu Shigeta sealed her son, Koshi, inside two plastic garbage bags because he stated in a moody way that he’d rather play his Nintendo DS than breathe.

On the evening of September 1st, 2012, Shigeta returned home to find toys scattered along the living room floor. Upset by this, Shigeta proceeded to put all of the toys into a garbage bag, and she also happened to add her son’s Nintendo DS. Under pressure from work and lack of sleep, Shigeta hurried to bed hoping to sleep in as the following day would be a Sunday. Troubled by lack of sleep, as previously stated, Shigeta swallowed a sleeping pill and washed it down with shochu whiskey and water. That night, Shigeta woke up twice and took another sleeping pill each time.

Upon waking up around 11:00 AM the next day, Shigeta was welcomed by her son, Koshi, asking where his Nintendo DS was. Still drowsy from the pills she had taken the previous night, Shigeta asked irritatedly: “Would you rather breathe or play DS?”

Ill-tempered without the knowledge of his Nintendo DS’s location, Koshi replied: “I’d rather play DS.”

Enraged by the kindergartener’s answer, Shigeta grabbed Koshi and bound his hands and feet with plastic twine. She covered both his mouth and eyes with tape, then pulled a garbage bag over his head and feet, drawing them together at his waist and sealing them tightly. Shigeta fell asleep soon after doing so, leaving Koshi trapped.

Later that day, at 12:15 PM, Shigeta’s husband returned and found his son and wife in the living room. He freed Koshi, only to discover him unconscious. Koshi was rushed to the hospital, but pronounced dead three days later due to hypoxic encephalopathy, which means brain damage due to lack of oxygen. Koshi has been described as having been a “lively kindergartener” with a doting mother who had trouble disciplining him.

Shigeta claims to recall only “fragments” of the incident, but admits to killing her son. Shigeta later said: “I intended to untie him once he’d apologized.”

The prosecution is asking that Shigeta serve only a four year sentence in prison, acknowledging the circumstances of the account and the fact that she conveys remorse.

It’s terrible to know that this occurred over a simple Nintendo DS, but it’s even worse that this occurred at all.

Source: JapanToday

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