Iwao Hakamada Acquitted After Nearly 50 Years on Death Row
In a landmark decision, Iwao Hakamada, an 88-year-old man, has been acquitted on charges of quadruple homicide by the Shizuoka District Court in Japan, ending a nearly six-decade-long battle against wrongful conviction. Hakamada, who spent 46 years on death row—the longest of any prisoner globally—was initially convicted in 1968 for the murders of his employer, Fumio Hashiguchi, his wife, and their two teenage children. The ruling comes after new evidence emerged, casting significant doubt on the legitimacy of his conviction and the methods used to obtain his confession.
The court's decision highlighted that Hakamada's confession was coerced under extreme duress, including prolonged interrogations lasting up to 12 hours a day. Judge Koshi Kunii stated, "The court declares the defendant innocent," acknowledging multiple pieces of fabricated evidence that contributed to his wrongful conviction. Hakamada's story has become a critical symbol for advocates calling for the abolition of the death penalty in Japan, where capital punishment remains a contentious issue despite its unpopularity among certain segments of the population.
Hakamada's sister, Hideko, who has tirelessly fought for his exoneration, was present at the court, expressing her gratitude to supporters and emphasizing the need for reform in Japan's criminal justice system. "We have won our acquittal, all thanks to your support," she said, her voice emotional as she left the courtroom. The case has drawn attention to the psychological toll of death row, as Hakamada faced years of isolation and uncertainty about his fate.
With prosecutors considering an appeal, the future of Hakamada's case remains uncertain. His acquittal marks a significant moment in Japan's legal history, being the fifth retrial of a death row inmate in the post-war era, all of which have ended in acquittal. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have celebrated the verdict as a crucial acknowledgment of the injustices faced by Hakamada and a call to abolish the death penalty to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future.
