強國日本 - Crane driver on trial for causing deaths of 6 children 日本, 2011, children, mobile, killed

peter236

Sep. 29, 2011 - 04:00PM JST

http://www.japantoday.com/catego ... eaths-of-6-children

TOCHIGI

The trial of a man accused of causing the death of six children in an accident began Wednesday. The six elementary school students were killed on April 18 when they were run over by a mobile crane while walking to school in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture.

According to Fuji TV, the court heard that Masato Shibata, 26, had been a long-term sufferer of epilepsy and had succumbed to a fit moments before the accident took place. The prosecutor told the jury that hiding his epilepsy to get his mobile crane driving license was a serious offense which had resulted in grave consequences.

The mother of 9-year-old Taiga Ihara, one of the children killed in the incident, was quoted as saying, “The children had their whole lives ahead of them. I want Shibata to be aware of the sense of regret we feel.”

Shibata’s lawyer appealed for leniency by explaining that it had been a lifelong dream of Shibata’s to drive a mobile crane. “My client will be atoning for the accident for the rest of his life,” the court heard.

After the opening session of the trial, a private meeting took place on Wednesday night between Shibata and the bereaved parents, but no details were revealed, Fuji reported.

peter236

The driver should be more ethical and considerate to other people by getting his license properly.