Exoneration After Decades on Death Row

A Japanese court has acquitted an 88-year-old former boxer, Iwao Hakamada, of a 1966 quadruple murder, reversing an earlier wrongful conviction after decades on death row. The Shizuoka District Court’s decision makes Hakamada the fifth death-row convict in postwar Japan to be found not guilty in a retrial.

Hakamada was convicted of murdering a company manager and three family members and setting fire to their home in 1966. He was sentenced to death in 1968.

Hakamada spent 48 years behind bars, most of them on death row, making him the world's longest-serving death row inmate.

The court's presiding judge, Koshi Kunii, acknowledged multiple fabrications of evidence and concluded that Hakamada was not the culprit.

The Case of Iwao Hakamada: A History of Wrongful Conviction

The case of Iwao Hakamada highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the death penalty in Japan. He spent decades on death row, raising concerns about the possibility of wrongful conviction and the potential for miscarriages of justice in the Japanese criminal justice system. The retrial and subsequent acquittal further underscore the importance of ensuring fairness and accuracy in criminal investigations and trials.

Hakamada initially denied the accusations but later confessed, claiming he was forced to confess under violent interrogation by police.

A major point of contention in the case was five pieces of blood-stained clothing that investigators claimed Hakamada wore during the crime and hid in a tank of fermented soybean paste (miso). These clothes were found more than a year after his arrest.

Scientific experiments showed that clothing soaked in miso for more than a year turns too dark for bloodstains to be spotted, raising suspicions of fabrication by investigators.

Blood samples on the clothes did not match Hakamada's DNA, and trousers presented as evidence were too small for him.

Death Row Inmate Released, But Not Cleared

Hakamada's long ordeal began with his arrest in 1966. He was sentenced to death in 1968, and spent almost 50 years in prison. While he was released in 2014 following a court's order for a retrial, he was not officially cleared of the conviction. He remained under house arrest, a testament to the length and complexity of his legal battle.

The court in 2014 ordered a retrial based on new evidence suggesting his conviction might have been based on fabricated accusations by investigators.

Despite his release, Hakamada continued to fight for his innocence, facing challenges to his legal rights and the possibility of remaining under the shadow of the original conviction.

The Fight for Retrial and Justice

The journey toward Hakamada's acquittal was long and arduous, involving numerous appeals and setbacks. His sister, Hideko Hakamada, played a crucial role in championing her brother's innocence, spending nearly half her life fighting for justice.

It took 27 years for the top court to deny his first appeal for a retrial.

His second appeal for a retrial was filed in 2008 by his sister, Hideko Hakamada. The court finally ruled in his favor in 2023, paving the way for the latest retrial that began in October.

Hideko Hakamada, now 91, spoke out about the difficulties of securing a retrial and the need for legal reform in Japan, advocating for easier access to retrial proceedings.

Death Penalty Debate in Japan

Hakamada's case has rekindled the debate surrounding Japan's use of the death penalty. While Japan remains one of the few developed countries that retains capital punishment, public opinion remains largely in favor of executions.

Japan and the United States are the only two countries in the Group of Seven advanced nations that retain capital punishment.

A survey by the Japanese government showed an overwhelming majority of the public support executions.

Executions are carried out in secrecy in Japan, with prisoners not informed of their fate until the morning they are hanged.

Some details of crimes committed by those executed are disclosed, but disclosures remain limited.

Impact of the Case on Japanese Criminal Justice

The Hakamada case has raised serious questions about the integrity of the Japanese criminal justice system, specifically in relation to wrongful convictions, death row sentences, and the use of capital punishment. The decision in his retrial, which culminated in an acquittal, has ignited a debate about potential systemic flaws and the need for legal reform.

The high hurdles for obtaining retrials have prompted legal experts to call for revisions to the legal system.

Hakamada's case has also brought to light the issue of prolonged detention on death row, highlighting the mental and emotional toll it can take on inmates.