An accused Japanese family of hiding their deceased relative’s’mummified remains’ in a bedroom six weeks after she died will not face prosecution.
Rina Yasutake, 49, a talented artist thought to have attended Cambridge University, was found lying on a mattress in a terraced cottage in Helmsley, North Yorkshire, in September 2018.
She was already in an advanced state of decomposition and was kept for up to six weeks after her death by her mother Michiko Yasutake, 78, sister Yoshika Yasutake, 55, and brother Takahiro Yasutake, 49.
North Yorkshire Police officers made the discovery after being tipped off by local pharmacy staff, who said woman’s brother and sister had been buying large amounts of surgical spirits and ‘smelled of dead bodies’, the court was told.
Takahiro, Yoshika, and Michiko pleaded guilty in October to the crime of interfering with lawful and proper burials.
However, Sean Morris, York’s recorder, decided Tuesday that all charges against the defendants must be filed.
The judge stated that the defendants are suffering from a rare mental condition, which created an unusual situation for criminal courts.
Rina Yasutake (49), a gifted artist, was discovered lying on a bed in Helmsley in North Yorkshire, September 2018.
The Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence at York Crown Court and Jonathan Sandiford QC said it was not in the public interest to pursue a trial.
At a court hearing in October 2019, prosecutor Sarah Tyrer said police found Rina’s remains after a pharmacist at Helmsley Surgery Medical Centre told police she had ‘grave concerns’ about the amount of surgical spirit a Japanese couple was buying.
She added: ‘Reference had been made that they were using it for cleansing an individual called Rina Yasutake.
“The pharmacist observed that the smell of dead bodies was evident.
“Later in the day, police responded to an address call and found the victim lying on top of a mattress with signs of mummification.
Rina may have been missing for at least six weeks when she was discovered. The North Yorkshire Police didn’t disclose details about Rina’s death.
After her remains were discovered, Helmsley police launched a major operation. In September 2018, officers in forensic suits searched the property and conducted a thorough search.
The family was described as “reclusive” by locals. Many people were unaware that Rina lived at this address, as she wasn’t seen anywhere in town.
On Tuesday, Sandiford said any sentence following a trial would have been restricted to a supervision order or an absolute discharge.
They were charged with a common law offense that can in certain cases be punishable by life imprisonment or an unspecified fine.
She was kept for up to six weeks by her mother Michiko Yasutake, 78, sister Yoshika Yasutake, 55, and brother Takahiro Yasutake, 49 (all pictured). A judge decided Tuesday that all charges against the defendants must be dropped.
Judge Morris decided that the charges would be kept on file, with the understanding that they will accept welfare visits from social services and police officers.
Craig Hassall QC (for the Yasutakes) stated that all three defendants have consented to that order.
According to him, the ‘highly unlikely circumstances’ led to his decision to place the case on file.
Judge Morris stated that the Crown accepted the fact that, if the case went to trial, the prosecution would not be able to prevent a jury from bringing in a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
“The criminal courts would have to be put to enormous expense and time in these trouble times when actually it would be to no ends.”
Following the discovery of Rina’s remains, there were many tributes. Sarah Matthews, Rina’s former classmate, described Rina as a hard-working teenager and an amazing artist.
Ms. Matthews stated that she went to Queen Mary’s boarding schools for girls in Duncombe Park, near Helmsley, with Rina between September 1980 and July 1986.
Rina said that she shared her dormitory for two-years with Rina, as well as another student. Rina was a dedicated teenager who had a bright future academically. She was also an exceptional artist and was a beautiful girl.
She was careful and quiet, yet she had a sense of humor. She took part in school activities of all kinds. She died suddenly.
Ms Matthews mentioned Rina’s academic achievements at school. Rina won a scholarship at Wycombe Abbey School (Buckinghamshire) in 1986, where she studied Latin, Greek and English.
Ms Matthews claimed that Rina was educated at Cambridge University, following Wycombe Abbey.
Rina lived with her family in Nunnington in North Yorkshire before they moved to Helmsley in 1998.