Accused child beater admits writing graffiti on daughter
SHIBUKAWA, Gunma -- A tattoo artist accused of brutally beating, kicking and throwing his newborn baby daughter denies the charges, but has admitted to scrawling graffiti all over her, prosecutors said.

Etsunaga Inoue, 37, the tattoo artist indicted for assault by the Maebashi District Public Prosecutors Office, plans to contest the charge.

Inoue's daughter, meanwhile, remains unconscious on a life-support system in a hospital.

Prosecutors said that at various times from July 26 to Aug. 16, Inoue punched and kicked his daughter's face and legs, hurled her into the air and held her under water for prolonged periods. Prosecutors said he also burned her legs with a cigarette lighter, then scrawled graffiti on her with a marker.

Inoue's daughter was born on July 22 and the abuse started soon after she had been allowed to go home for the first time in her life. (Mainichi)