Psych Observer - Exposing Bad Psychiatry

Morimitsu Sakihama plans to plead not guilty for disclosing confidential information about a minor defendant to a journalist

The Japan Times
Tuesday, April 15, 2008

NARA (Kyodo) — A psychiatrist charged with leaking investigation records about a deadly arson case in Nara Prefecture to a freelance journalist refrained from entering a plea Monday at opening of his trial in the Nara District Court.

Morimitsu Sakihama, 50, has been charged with unlawful disclosure of confidential information for leaking to journalist Atsuko Kusanagi depositions of a male teenager who torched his home in Tawaramoto, Nara Prefecture, in June 2006, killing his stepmother, younger brother and sister.

Sakihama’s lawyers explained their plan to plead not guilty, saying an examiner is exempt from the charge and Sakihama had a legitimate aim to correct social recognition over the pervasive development disorder the teen was diagnosed with and that the boy had no murderous intent. He is expected to enter a plea at the next trial session May 1.

Kusanagi authored the book “Boku-wa Papa-wo Korosu Kotoni Kimeta” (”I decided to Kill Daddy”), citing the information she got from Sakihama. Kodansha Ltd. published it last May.

The publication led to the arrest of Sakihama and questioning of Kusanagi, which raised questions related to freedom of expression and the confidentiality of news sources.

Sakihama, who was appointed in August 2006 to conduct a psychiatric evaluation on the teen, is accused of showing copies of depositions he had kept from the Nara Family Court to Kusanagi at his house and a hotel, and handing her a copy of his report on the teen.