A pair of trousers stained with blood and a confession believed to be forced led to Iwao Hakamata’s death sentence in the 1960s. Now, over 50 years later, the world’s longest-serving death row inmate has been found innocent, reports NHK, a public broadcaster.
On Thursday, a Japanese court cleared 88-year-old Hakamata of all charges. He was wrongly sentenced to death in 1968 for killing a family. This decision ends a long legal battle that drew worldwide attention to Japan’s justice system and sparked debates over the death penalty.
Judge Kunii Tsuneishi of the Shizuoka District Court ruled that the blood-stained clothing used as evidence against Iwao Hakamata was planted long after the murders, according to NHK.
“The court cannot accept the fact that the blood stain would remain reddish if it had been soaked in miso for more than a year. The bloodstains were processed and hidden in the tank by the investigating authorities after a considerable period of time since the incident,” Tsuneishi said.
“Mr. Hakamata cannot be considered the criminal,” it was proclaimed.
Hakamata sentenced for the murder of his boss’s family
Iwao Hakamata was once a professional boxer. He retired in 1961 and took a job at a soybean plant in Shizuoka, central Japan—a decision that would change his life forever.
Five years later, in June, Hakamata’s boss, the boss’s wife, and their two children were found stabbed to death in their home. Hakamata, who was divorced and also worked at a bar, quickly became the main suspect.
BREAKING: Former professional boxer Iwao Hakamata has been found not guilty over a 1966 quadruple murder case, a long-awaited retrial verdict for the defendant and his supporters, who have fought to prove his innocence since he was first arrested for the crime. pic.twitter.com/wbBjo40DQV
— Fire Bred (@firebred_) September 26, 2024
After days of intense questioning, Hakamata admitted to the crime. However, he later changed his plea, claiming that police had beaten and threatened him to force a confession.
Hakamata was sentenced to death by a 2-1 judge decision, even though he claimed the police had faked evidence. The judge who disagreed stepped down six months later, feeling disheartened for not stopping the verdict.
Rare retrial on an order from Japan’s Supreme Court
Hakamata, who has always insisted on his innocence, spent over half his life on death row. New evidence led to his release a decade ago.
In 2014, a DNA test on the blood found on the trousers did not match Hakamata or the victims, prompting the Shizuoka District Court to order a retrial. Due to his age and fragile mental health, Hakamata was freed while awaiting court proceedings.
The Tokyo High Court initially rejected a retrial for Hakamata, but in 2023, Japan’s Supreme Court ordered a second chance. Retrials are uncommon in Japan, where conviction rates amount to 99 percent, according to the Ministry of Justice.
Hideko, Hakamata’s 91-year-old sister said she “couldn’t stop crying and tears were overflowing” when she heard the verdict.
“When the judge said the defendant was not guilty, it sounded divine to me,” said Hideko, who has campaigned for his freedom for decades.
