“Japanese Man Freezes to Death After Woman Locks Him Outside”

Tokyo: A Japanese woman was arrested for allegedly locking her naked partner on the balcony overnight. Police said he died from cold.

A 54-year-old woman was taken into custody on charges of assault and lethal confinement, according to police officials in Japan’s Nagasaki region, who informed AFP.

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Woman Accused of Forcing Partner Outside Naked, Leading to Tragic Death

The incident occurred in February 2022 when the woman allegedly forced the victim, her common-law husband, onto the balcony without any clothes and locked him outside. He was unable to escape or seek help, leaving him exposed to harsh winter temperatures for hours. Local official Masafumi Tanigawa stated that the prolonged exposure to the cold ultimately led to his tragic fate. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances leading up to the event and any prior history of abuse.

The next day, police responded to an emergency call and arrived at the scene, where they discovered the 49-year-old man in critical condition inside a room, Tanigawa said. He was barely conscious and showed severe signs of exposure to extreme cold. Despite efforts to save him, he later succumbed to hypothermia, according to officials. Authorities believe prolonged exposure to the freezing temperature significantly contributed to his deteriorating condition and eventual death.

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Chilling Temperatures and a History of Abuse: Investigators Probe Deadly Confinement Case

That night, the temperature dropped to a chilling 3.7°C (38.7°F), as reported by the Mainichi daily. The extreme cold made survival difficult, especially for someone left exposed without clothing or protection. Authorities later revealed that this was not the first instance of violence in their relationship. Earlier, the woman had attacked her common-law husband with a knife, inflicting serious injuries to his nose. Medical reports indicated that the wounds were deep enough to require two weeks to heal. Investigators suspect a history of abuse and are examining whether there were other instances of violence before the fatal incident.

The woman denied the charges, stating, “I’ve done nothing,” according to Tanigawa.

Police did not explain the delay in formally charging her.