Iwao Hakamata Acquitted After Decades on Death Row

Former Death Row Inmate Acquitted After Decades

Iwao Hakamata, a former death row inmate, has finally been acquitted of the 1966 murders of four people. The Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office announced on Wednesday that they would not appeal the district court's ruling, finalizing Hakamata's acquittal.

The 88-year-old Hakamata had spent decades fighting for his innocence. He was initially convicted and sentenced to death in 1980. However, in 2008, he filed a second request for a retrial, which was granted in 2014. The retrial began in October 2022, and on September 26, the district court acquitted Hakamata.

The court's decision was based on strong criticism of the investigators involved in the original case. The ruling stated that three key pieces of evidence, including a cloth allegedly worn by the perpetrator, had been fabricated.

Both the prosecutor general and the chief of the Shizuoka prefectural police headquarters have offered apologies to Hakamata for the ordeal he endured. Hakamata himself has expressed relief and gratitude for the court's decision.

This case highlights the importance of a fair and just legal system, where even those wrongly convicted can eventually find vindication. It also serves as a reminder of the devastating impact that wrongful convictions can have on individuals and their families.