December 01, 2001 Unlawful Disposition of a Corpse
Ooyano City, Kumamoto Prefecture
A man who set out to burn his garbage this morning found that today was going to be one of those days where your plans get altered for you, whether you like it or not. There was someone already at the neighborhood incinerator, you see. Well...in the incinerator.
Police responded to the scene and recovered from the inside of the incinerator human remains so severely charred that nothing, not even sex, could be determined. An autopsy is to be performed. Having no immediate clear evidence of foul play, the police are investigating the incident as the illegal disposition of a corpse. Results of the autopsy and further information may change the direction of the investigation.
December 02, 2001 DWI, Vehicular Manslaughter
Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Emiko Shibata, a 29 year old housewife, apparently thought that operating a motor vehicle required neither sobriety nor a license. In any event, she was in possession of neither when she crossed the center line at 8:55 last night and destroyed a family in the process.
Shibata has been placed under arrest, charged with drunken driving and professional negligence resulting in injury/death. Her victims were four members of a family. The 38 year old father sustained head injuries and died at the scene. His 34 year old wife, who was in the front passenger seat received a broken pelvis. Their 5 year old son, riding in the back seat, was tossed from the vehicle by the force of the impact. In addition to a concussion he also suffered a broken left leg. His 10 year old brother's right leg was broken in the crash.