Japanese Teen Burns Down House Fearing Grades

A Japanese boy burned down his home, killing his stepmother and two younger siblings, fearing that his parents would find out he had lied about his marks on an English test.

The 16-year-old, whose name was not been released since he is a minor, set fire to his house in western Japan, and left his stepmother to die along with his 7-year-old brother and 5-year-old sister.

The boy's parents had been due to attend a meeting with teachers about his exam results that same day.

Upon questioning by the police, the teen told police his father, a doctor, had put him under extreme pressure over his academic performance and he did not see another alternative.

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