On Thursday, a Japanese man named Iwao Hakamata was acquitted in a retrial of the 1966 murders of four people, ending his family’s decades-long quest for justice for a wrongful conviction. Hakamata, who spent 45 years on death row, was released in 2014 due to doubts about the evidence that led to his initial conviction. The Shizuoka district court acquitted him, and prosecutors have 10 days to appeal the decision. Hakamata’s 91-year-old sister expressed overwhelming emotions, stating that she was moved to tears by the divine verdict.
Hakamata was initially found guilty of killing his company manager and three of his family members, and setting their home on fire. Despite briefly confessing to the crimes, he later pleaded innocent during his trial. He was sentenced to death in 1968, a penalty that was upheld by Japan’s Supreme Court in 1980. Throughout his time in prison, Hakamata maintained his innocence, with his lawyers arguing that DNA tests on bloodstained clothing did not match his blood.
Amnesty International praised the exoneration as a “pivotal moment for justice” and called for Japan to abolish the death penalty. The organization stated that Hakamata’s case highlights the profound injustice he endured for most of his life and marks the end of a lengthy battle to clear his name. Hakamata’s lead lawyer expressed gratitude for the not guilty verdict, describing it as groundbreaking. The verdict brings an end to a long and arduous fight for justice and recognition of the injustice he faced during his wrongful imprisonment.
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