‘Mommy’: A flawed however fascinating dive right into a infamous homicide case

The courtroom of public opinion strikes a lot sooner than the authorized system — and Masumi Hayashi by no means stood an opportunity. In October 1998, the mom of 4 from Wakayama was arrested on suspicion of slipping arsenic right into a pot of curry at a neighborhood competition, killing 4 folks and sickening over 60 others.

The case sparked a media frenzy, which intensified after the Asahi Shimbun reported that the Hayashi household had been related with arsenic poisonings up to now. Masumi’s husband, Kenji, was an insect exterminator who’d found that the toxins he utilized in his line of labor may additionally turn out to be useful for pulling off insurance coverage scams.

However, Masumi’s destiny was in all probability sealed the second she turned a backyard hose on the paparazzi outdoors her home whereas sporting an inscrutable grin. Images of the incident have been replayed endlessly within the media, the place she grew to become identified by the nickname “dokufu” (toxic spouse). By the time she was convicted and sentenced to demise, few appeared to query her guilt –— by no means thoughts the dearth of any direct proof, clear motive or confession.