Saga woman in custody over fatal stabbing of employee at child welfare facility
SAGA (TR) – Saga Prefectural Police on Saturday arrested a 28-year-old woman over the alleged fatal stabbing of a female staff member at a child welfare facility in Saga City. The incident was the second involving the suspect this month, reports Fuji News Network (June 1).
At a little after 5:30 p.m., a person at the child welfare facility in Kanatatecho called police to report that a woman armed with a knife was acting violently.
Officers arriving at the scene found that staff member Chie Kawahara, 55, had been slashed in both arms by a person wielding a kitchen knife. She died about an hour and a half later at a hospital.
Police later accused Miru Hirata of attempted murder. 'I don't remember, so I don't know,' Hirata told police in denying the allegations.
Interviews with police have revealed that the knife had a blade length of approximately 13 centimeters. It was likely brought in from outside the facility.
Kawahara's body had suffered multiple stab wounds and cuts to the chest and both arms. The cause of death was hemorrhagic shock due to loss of blood, police said.
Police believe that Hirata came to the facility to see her child. The investigation is ongoing on suspicion of murder.
Miru Hirata told police: 'I don't remember' (X) Another incident
According to police, Hirata had gone wild at another welfare facility in Saga City on May 13. At one point, she screamed, 'Give me back my child!'
Police took her into custody and reported the matter to the prefecture. The prefecture then decided that there was no need for involuntary hospitalization and handed her over to her family.
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