crime

Kawasaki murder victim's mother releases statement to media

62 Comments

The mother of Ryota Uemura, the 13-year-old boy whose body was found on a riverbank in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Feb 20, has released a statement to the media for the first time on her son's murder.

"When I saw Ryota's body, a part of me couldn't accept that he was really gone," she said in the statement released by her lawyer on Monday night after a wake for Ryota, NTV reported. "When I saw his gentle little face, I wanted to think that he was only sleeping. Even now I wake up early in the morning and I seem to hear his energetic voice, calling out to me, 'Mom, Mom, I'm ready for breakfast!' But then at the end of the day, I know that he isn't going to be returning home from school anymore. I keep reflecting upon how I often had to leave before he left for school in the morning so that I could get to work on time, and how I always returned so late at the end of the day. I never got to hear about what was going on during his day."

She said that Ryota never let on that anything was wrong and that he was the kind of boy who didn't want to worry her.

Uemura's mother said that on Feb 19 -- the night before his body was found -- Ryota had asked her if he could go out for a little while after dinner. "How could I know that I would never see him again? I hadn't really wanted him to leave, and I wish so much that I could have been more firm in trying to stop him from leaving that night. If I had done so, then this wouldn't have happened, and my child would still be with me. I keep playing that over and over in my mind."

She recalled seeing the wounds all over his body when she identified him, and thinking, "How much suffering did my child experience during his last moments? He must have been terrified. When I think of this, I cannot stop crying."

Regarding the suspects, Uemura's mother said she can't think anything about them and that nothing will bring her son back.

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62 Comments
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I know from experience that nothing in life is more heartbreaking than losing your own child and this mother's life will never be the same.

30 ( +34 / -4 )

Heartbreaking. There are always things you wish you had done differently in tragedies like this. The only thing that can be done is to see that the youths who slaughtered this little boy be put behind bars for a very long time, and not treated as youths who will merely get a slap on the wrist, sending the message to others that you can literally get away with murder in this society. Put them away. It won't bring young Uemura back, nor will it help the woman's suffering, but it might just serve as a warning to people nearing 'adulthood' that they cannot do as they please and flaunt the law.

22 ( +26 / -4 )

Before her comment I said nothing. Now I want to say something to all the commenters that slated her. Do you remember what you were like as a thirteen year old? Do you remember that you would be out as long as you could possibly be without getting into trouble for it? Your savage quotes obviously didn't think of that before you cast your judgements. I wish her nothing but compassion poor woman

25 ( +31 / -7 )

Poor woman. I feel for her.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

The only thing that can be done is to see that the youths who slaughtered this little boy be put behind bars for a very long time, and not treated as youths who will merely get a slap on the wrist,

Does Japanese law allow for the charging of minors as adults in cases of serious crime? If not then it needs to be done, and if it does indeed allow this, I hope that the prosecutors will not just try to put this one in the "win" column and take the easy way and try them as youths, but do the hard work that I am sure it will entail to get them to be charged as adults so that they can get the maximum sentence.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Japanese are very compassionate & forgiving. It's in embedded in their culture . We hardly find people who show violent reactions to anything . They keep their pain to themselves. That's where the problem lies ..they are not vocal to anything they feel inside , so you would hardly know they are into depression or anything that is not good to the point of taking their own lives .. Just like this 13 year old boy ..

-19 ( +8 / -27 )

He was a beautiful boy. Murdered by garbage. I hate them.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

This incident should be enough for the japanese lawmakers to retrospect the juvenile law and should make necessary changes in the amendment so that teens those think they can not be punished for their horrified crime should start fearing.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@pontananagoma He didn't take his own life as you imply. He was savagely murdered!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Can a parent endure anything worse that this? How senseless and tragic.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This woman is sadly going to be second guessing herself for the rest of her life. I hope SHE gets the counselling and assistance she needs to keep living.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Interesting side note ... it was reported on a TV show that the murderer's mother is a Filipino, the father a Japanese. There was more to this side of the story ... but, anyway, considering the local press, this might put new light on this ongoing story ...

Moderator: Sorry, but at this stage, we are not allowing references to the suspect's ethnic background as it is not relevant.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Read her statements again and tell me you didn't choke back tears or get a lump in your throat. This woman is in pain. There is nothing that can be said that will make her stop thinking about Ryota. One way to console her would be for another mother who has lost a child to share her grief.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

This is absolutely heartbreaking.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

The punks need to burn for this, that statement really kills me as a father.... You would have to lock me up if I ever saw the face of one of these punks on the street

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Alphaape: "Does Japanese law allow for the charging of minors as adults in cases of serious crime?"

Technically, as of not too long ago, yes, but they have rarely if at all carried it out. There was talk of it recently in another case, but cases like this and the psycho girl who killed a woman with a hatchet and poisoned people at schools, as well as the other one who cut off another person's head, and the countless other young murderers who 'wanted to see what it was like' get away with it.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

So very, very sad - I feel for this mother. And so many people so quick to judge the mother who worked hard to house, feed and clothe her children. Also very sad.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

“When I saw Ryota’s body, a part of me couldn’t accept that he was really gone,”

At the risk of a thousand thumbs down: Maybe, she should have been more a part of the kid's life and this would not have happened. Yeah, people have got to work and being a single mum is a tough slog, but it is quite obvious this kid was lost in his early teens and found security in a gang of thugs, which killed him. I have a lot of sympathy for this woman, but hindsight is 20/20. All kids are products of their environment regardless of outside influences.

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

Her statement crushed me...feeling sad!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The story of this boy really moving, nvr fails to make my eyes damp with tears everytime update on the news comes out the television. i hvnt post anyting for quite a long time here but i feel very strong for this boy's tradegy. Sorry mom, i think u didnt do enough for ur poor kid! Regret all u can ur whole life. This story will be an eye opener for all parents to learn from to avoid such regret.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

but they have rarely if at all carried it out.

And you know this how? Very little of what actually gets charged here in Japan is printed here and unless you have some outside information this is not a safe assumption to make.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Disillusioned

Maybe, she should have been more a part of the kid's life and this would not have happened.

Maybe, but I don't think you realize how hard is to raise a kid as a single mom working, not only in Japan but all over the world, as a woman, your salary is considerably lower than a man, so you have to work harder or for more hours to barely ends meet. At least, the kid went to school and was feed and cared for.

And even if the mom was there for him, youths today are more rebellious, they can lie to their parents if they want to, there´s no guarantee that the kid would go straight, just because the mom was there, I've seen cases of children falling into drugs, gangs, and bad life even when the parents are present. I feel for this mother, because nothing is more painful than outlive your children

9 ( +12 / -3 )

I am wondering-

Calls and visits from the teacher were unanswered but were messages left? Or maybe they were retrieved by the son to hide what was going on from the mom?

If the mother comes back late night, it would mean dinner was late. What time did he leave when he went out and is that perfectly normal for a Jr. High student?

How old is the sister living with them and she didn't notice anything peculiar to tell her mom?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@RyokawaMAR. 03, 2015 - 04:16PM JST This incident should be enough for the japanese lawmakers to retrospect the juvenile law and should make necessary changes in the amendment so that teens those think they can not be punished for their horrified crime should start fearing

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Abe expressed he was shocked. Hope he will express his shocxk by putting agenda of changing juvenile laws.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I broke in tears reading this news. I was in the train. But I didn't care. It's just so heartbreaking .

6 ( +7 / -1 )

If Abe wants more women to join the workforce, I hope he'll engrave this tragedy in his heart & mind and will implement every assistance possible to women, especially single working mothers so they won't have to go through what this woman went through. RIP Ryota.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@Joice

At least, the kid went to school and was feed and cared for.

Well it sounds like he was at least fed so you got 1 out of 3. He wasn't going to school which is why the teacher repeatedly tried to contact her. And as for being cared for:

She said that Ryota never let on that anything was wrong and that he was the kind of boy who didn’t want to worry her.

I dare anyone to look at the pictures of him beaten and bruised and tell me they couldn't figure out something was wrong.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

society is set up to destroy familes , these days divorse is rampid and people have to work to hard to make end's meet , life could be so much easier , to the goverments and people around the world free masons watch your back god will make you pay, the devil and evil is your best friend now, but not for long

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Absolutely heartbreaking.

I think that everyone would agree that every parent of a 13 yr old is definitely responsible for their child's well-being, but I also think it's very obvious that this mother will suffer for the rest of her life, regreting, and thinking "what if..." for every moment and every day until the day she dies.

Yet, some posters still feel the need to point out how she is at least "partially" responsible, or how she could have prevented this from happening.

To those posters, I would like to say: WE KNOW.

But please consider this: for the amount of suffering that Ryota went through, and the amount of suffering that the mother will go through, can we please focus on the evil, sub-human, sick bastards who caused all of this suffering?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Disillusioned:

If multiple thumbs down were possible, I´d probably be thumbing you into the sub-basement, just to express my frustration. Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but dumping on the mother is just so very wrong imho.

I found her statement classy, btw.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Anonymous: I think we all know that in the big picture, this is just a drop in the bucket. But somehow, this particular case does touch a nerve. I am not the only one feeling this way; just look at the still growing pile of flowers at the murder site.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Disillusioned,

I have a lot of sympathy for this woman, but hindsight is 20/20.

You're misusing the expression, "hindsight is 20/20." The expression speaks to being able to look back on some past event and recognize signs that weren't altogether clear in the actual moment, as in, *"Ah, now that I look back, I can see where I went wrong," otherwise known as being human. It's not meant to be used as an "I told you so,"* which is precisely how you're using it alongside your "sympathy."

There's no reasonable way the mother could have anticipated her son would be led to a riverbank and stabbed to death by another teen, despite her being a single mother and the boy having trouble adjusting to his new life in Kawasaki. The responsibility for this tragedy falls squarely on the shoulders of the boys who did it.

Meanwhile, what exactly constitutes a meaningful definition of "being a part of the kid's life?" She’s a single mother working long hours as a nurse to put a roof over her family's heads and food in their mouths. Are you suggesting she voluntarily cut back on some of her hours and eschew the "luxuries" of, say, health insurance and electricity in order to better fit your definition of a more attentive parent? It's admirable that she was capable and willing to work for a living, rather than opting for public assistance, or worse yet, simply not caring enough to do anything.

I find almost invariably that folks who preach about how parents, particularly single ones, could or should go about parenting in situations like this possess a painfully limited understanding of it actually entails to raise a child by oneself, and instead choose to operate from a list of unfair assumptions and outdated stereotypes.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

At least, the kid went to school and was feed and cared for.

Well it sounds like he was at least fed so you got 1 out of 3. He wasn't going to school which is why the teacher repeatedly tried to contact her.

What I meant, is that the mother provided him with food, care (under a roof) and was able to go to school, other neglecting mothers, simply don't provide, make their kids work, and ignore their child.

And as for being cared for: She said that Ryota never let on that anything was wrong and that he was the kind of boy who didn't want to worry her. I dare anyone to look at the pictures of him beaten and bruised and tell me they couldn't figure out something was wrong.

I did not have that piece of information, however, it seems that you don't know very much about bullying, a bullied boy/girl will conceal as much as she/he can injuries or bruises, specially from their parents, it really takes a while for parents to notice, even if it is obvious to other people to see, it is the same with domestic violence, some close friends of a battered woman will not notice anything strange, parents even less, it is a similar pattern with a bullied boy/girl. It is also the same with those recluse people that stay at home and don't get out, with the wide spread of this phenomenon, are parents responsible too?

All I say, don't judge so harshly on parents, you are not in their shoes, nor do you live their situation, anything can happen, event to the most careful parent, and the reverse is true too, there are some times that an absent and neglecting parent makes a child a nice adult. I do not have children, but I do know and I am close to single mothers with different backgrounds, some of them are over protective, others are relaxed, some with money, others working, other that suffered domestic violence and others that always relied in the grandparents and others that are doing their best to be a "full mom",but nowadays it is very difficult, even if you have money and all you can do is to stay-at-home, that age is really tricky and your child can be bullied and you will not notice after a few months (it happened to a nice married couple i knew that were actively participating in the school board).

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The statement made by this mother is same I read in many many cases before. (In another language). Apparently, it is so rare in Japan that it is a discovery of the human feeling I feel so sorry for the boy because no one was responsible for him and helped him. Bullying in Japan is happening because people close their eyes. I have a son and first thing I taught him is "tell me if something wrong, I will be there" and I have been... It was not accident, but failure of society and although so harsh to say even for me, no one can reject the fact that she is partially responsible for what has happened. Facts are facts. She is the one to need that support now, which I would personnally give if I knew her. Good luck mother.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I know that he isn’t going to be returning home from school anymore.

Well from everything that we heard, he wasn't going to school in the first place to return from it. This should have been a red flag for her. Sure she is the victim here and nothing can be done to bring her son back, but I ask all you parents: if your child stopped going to school, would you not do everything in your means to figure out what the problem was and solve it? If your child came home bruised like he did, would you sit by idly? It is terrible that this boy felt comfortable telling his friend on Line that he thought he may be murdered, but was not able to sit down with his mother to discuss his fears. Just because she released an emotional statement does not mean that we should turn a blind eye to the surrounding situation. I feel that this problem is bigger than a single parents responsibility and warrants discussion on the current state of affairs of Japanese society, as this was not the first or the last incident of its kind.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

My parents kept tabs on my pretty well growing up. But then again, I was dropped off and picked up from school by one parent who only worked part time while the other worked full time. My society didn't approve of children being alone, which happens very often in Japan. My parents worked really hard to involve themselves in my life and know what was going on. I guess I was privileged. This story makes me realize how that might not always be possible in some households.

It makes me more determined to know what goes on in my own kids' lives in the future.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Can't retain my rolling tears. As a father, there is no worse devastating emotion than the lost and a torn-broken heart for a son / daughter. RIP Ryuta-kun and my most deepest condolences to the family. My thoughts and prayers are with them, specially the mother !!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This poor kid and his mother. She had obviously instilled some values in him because he REFUSED to shoplift, and she was doing the right thing by the family despite competing obligations i.e. family, work, etc. Neither of them are to blame and as a father of a 6yo boy, will make sure my boy gets more attention than he deserves.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Amazing how many self-professed perfect parents there are on JT who would know how to navigate this mother's difficult situation perfectly. You guys should teach life lesson classes.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Normal 17/18 year-olds do not hang around with 13 year-olds.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It truly hurts to read this.I just don't understand why anyone would do such an evil,cruel thing to Ryota and his family.Words cannot express the pain Ryota's mother is feeling,I know that she truly loves her son and she is completely heartbroken.I know Ryota's mother would give anything in the world to have her son back.The only people to blame for this evil crime are the ones that have committed it.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Maybe, she should have been more a part of the kid's life and this would not have happened.

Yes, thumbs down! I was raised from less than a year old by a single mother. I was on my own a lot! I started taking care of myself at 6 years old. My mom woukd often wake me up make sure I was ready to go to school before she left for work. Then I slept on the sofa and she called the house to make sure I left for the bus. She often got home long after I had fallen asleep at night. It wasn't easy for either of us. Lucky for us I didn't join a gang or break her rules. As I got older I pushed my limits of course, I did some stupid things too. When I got older I realized those things I did could have caused trouble... I was lucky. My mom did the best she could maybe it's good I was self sufficient. I loved her and I always respected her. Now that she's gone I wish we could have spent more time together over 48 years but it wasn't possible just like for Uemura's mom. Everyone makes it sound like he didn't go to school for a year. He hadn't been back since third semester. I have students who have missed most of third semester and some have moms at home. There's really only been a month of school total so far by the time he was killed it wasn't that much time. Sometimes I didbt want to go to school I called my mom and said I didn't feel good or told her after she got home. She always backed me up with a note but it's essy to be absent it your parent isn't actually looking at you seeing how you're fine... God bless his mom and I hope the bastards rot in hell for what they did to this little boy!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Viki Lynn Paulsen:

" Everyone makes it sound like he didn't go to school for a year. He hadn't been back since third semester. "

He stopped going to school in Mid January. What people are missing (and maybe it is not clear from the articles here, but you can find it on Japanese websites) is that he wanted to go back to school but his new "friends" told him not to go. And it is not at all clear that his mom knew he was not going, since she was working at the time he had to leave the house for school. It is reasonable to assume she did not know. I think the people here who are bashing the mother really don´t understand the situation.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Dumping on the parent is misplaced anger. Kids with both parents are also hurt by inhuman bullying. I've seen teachers bully as well. Children have to be safe in school and at home from harm.

I'm angry at the monsters that killed a child. When will Japan stop the bullies that harm kids?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I feel like this woman is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. If she had stayed home with no money people would have been condemning her for sitting on her butt all day doing nothing. On the other hand, she goes out to work doing a job she is trained for, and now she's a bad irresponsible mother? Correct me if Im wrong but there aren't many hospitals who hire nurses 9-3 weekdays only and give them the school holidays off too.

She did the best she could with her circumstances and she probably genuinely believed working her butt off to make sure Ryota (and the other 4?) could eat and be clothed was the right thing to do. He was 13, not 3. Perfectly capable of being left alone. The ONLY blame for this death lies with these subhuman thugs and I pray they are put away for a long time. But I doubt it.

And the one saying he is to blame and he tried to stop him but the leader threatened to kill him too? Why didn't he run straight to the police with what had happened?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The parents divorced when he was in third grade. The mother was working as a nursing assistant. After the divorce, the mother moved their family back to Kawasaki where she is originally from. Makes sense since the mother's parents are there.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's been a few months since a similar killing was in the news (the Nagoya University coed). So once every half year to every few years or so, in a nation of 126M.

Can't really expect any of the parents to foresee this outcome.

Apparently the mom was aware of the bullying, if the police were called to the gang leaders home for the previous offense. But what else could she do about it, but that?

Hard to see why the teacher visited the home looking for the kid five times without success, but apparently that's how they do it. My aunt used to make similar visits. But my kids' school district now (California), if you miss 10 class periods (with 7 periods to a schoolday), your parents will be notified. If you miss 15 classes you'll visit the vice principal in a meeting with your parents. If you miss 20 periods (that's about 3 schooldays worth), the school can force you to change schools. They have your parents' home and work and cell phone numbers to call. At some point they can send police to your home to enforce attendance. Classes are tallied with a computer system the teachers update each period, and calls are made to parents at home in the evening by an autodialer, whenever the student misses a class. Automatic letters are sent to parents by post when student has certain numbers of tardies or absences, or when a meeting with vice principal is to be scheduled.

But schools here are paid a fix rate per student by the state, and don't get credit (or get reduced credit) for unexcused absences, so maybe that's got something to do with the hard line.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In Japan, murderers and other criminals are being released from jail everyday after serving only very short and lenient sentences. Many criminals are juveniles who commit adult crimes. They are being tried every day in juvenile courts, they are receiving shortened sentences, and they are being released continue to live their lives in peaceful and happy bliss, all while their victims and their families are left to suffer forever. Because the Japanese courts believe that second chances should be given to youths who commit crimes.

When it comes to trying teens in court as adults. That teens should be held accountable for their actions and tried as adults. Put yourself in the mother’s position, if your son or daughter just died, how would you want their killer to be punished? How would you feel if you never got to see your child alive again while their killer served only a short sentence before being released from jail?

Now then, some people believe that we should stop putting teens in adult prison. They believe we should be lenient with them and give them easier sentences. These people argue that children are capable of learning from their mistakes and because they are children, they can be rehabilitated. Others say that teens are too young to understand the consequences of there actions, or that they don’t know their limitations. Why should juveniles be treated any different than adults when the crimes they are committing are every bit as heinous as adult crimes?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@sfjp33

Yes, once guilt has been determined, setting and carrying out of sentence should be reduced to clerical details.

This and this and this condition apply to the crime, get that sentence, effected next Tuesday.

No exclusions for cuteness, age, gender, or whatnot.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Is curious to read many people blaming the victims mother and nobody seems to even mention the murderers parents role in all this.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

the murder itself was not her fault AT ALL in any ways, however, the fact that she KNEW the boy was not going to school for awhile and she told the teacher that she wasn't sure what the boy wanted to do because she had not spoken with him about it.

while I understand she was busy and tired, but why did she not ask her mom (boy's grandmother) to at least check on him, if they moved back to Kawasaki because mom's parents live in Kawasaki, why didn't grandmother get involved in this? I will probably get voted down but I keep wondering why.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

It's easy to ask why she or other family members did or didn't do one thing or the other. Even if we had the answers, what purpose does that serve other than to make us feel superior, to make us feel this could never happen to us because we always do the right thing in the right measure at the right time.

Instead of doing that, I see a grieving woman who was doing the best she could with limited resources and now she's suffered the greatest loss a parent can possibly endure. My heart goes out to her.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

what purpose does that serve other than to make us feel superior

no, ot does not make us feel superior, but it's important so that we will not make the same mistake she did. there are many women out there who work hard to support their children to feed them and house them but it gives them a very important message to not miss those SOS signs from our children.

this should never happen again and we, parents need to be reminded by this what is most important no matter how busy we get.

by NO means I am saying this was just the mom's responsibility but everyone around her. there was no way she would have even guessed that it would be her last day to see her son, there was no way she could have guessed what would happen to him, but we as parents, need to sharpen our instincts to protect our children.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

fishy:

" while I understand she was busy and tired, but why did she not ask her mom (boy's grandmother) to at least check on him "

We all make assumptions here. How do you know that her parents are able-bodied and able to do something about the situation? How do you know that she even knew the boy was not at school, seeing that she left for work before him?

None of the details have been reported, and you are judging her based simply on what you imagine her situation was. Well, we can all imagine all sorts of things. What we do know is that the boy did want to go back to school, but the "shonan group" told him not to. And what a bunch of great guys they are.... google in Japanese for their pictures and friends.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Readers, please do not impugn the victim’s mother on this thread.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How do you know that her parents are able-bodied and able to do something about the situation?

grandmother was on TV being interviewed.

How do you know that she even knew the boy was not at school

boy's teacher called her many times and they actually spoke. she was aware he wasn't going to school for awhile and told the teacher she wasn't sure what the boy's intention was because they had not spoken about that, is what she said to the teacher.

None of the details have been reported

yes they have been reported.

the murderer was 100% responsible for the murder however there are many things we as parents need to lerarn from the mistakes the mother made.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

" grandmother was on TV being interviewed. "

I have been watching J-news every day and must have missed that. When was she on TV?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

wiliB grandma's face was not shown but she had said that if law won't kill the murderer, family will. to show the murderer how much it hurts and to make the murderer go through what the boy went through. grandfather also released a statement that says it hurts to see his daughter (mom) every day to see her pain.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If these young adults were following the example of ISIS then it has to be shown that this will not be tolerated. Do not allow this type of behavior to spread. RIP young one and condolences to the mother.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Feel for the mother. Even keeping him in may not have saved him. I know at that age I used to sneak out my bedroom window at night & meet up with other kids. You could do everything right & still things can happen. The only ones to blame are the teens that killed him.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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