The world record longest-serving death row inmate is released by Japan.
An 88-year-old man who had been sentenced to death in 1968 for the murder of a family was found not guilty of any crime following a retrial in Japan. He spent the majority of his life on death row.
After a retrial in Japan, an 88-year-old man who had been given a death sentence in 1968 for the murder of a family was found not guilty of any crime. He spent most of his life on death row.
Shizuoka District Court ruled that 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada was innocent, in a retrial that was granted 10 years ago.
Hakamada is the fifth death row inmate granted a retrial in Japan’s post-war history. All four previous cases also resulted in acquittals.
Hundreds of people queued in the morning at the court to try and secure a seat for the verdict in what has become a high-profile case that has gripped the nation.
In Japan’s post-war history, Hakamada is the fifth death row inmate to be grante0d a retrial. mily members two years before.
October saw the start of the most recent retrial, which was ultimately granted by the court in 2023 following the filing of a second appeal in 2008 by his 91-year-old sister Hideko Hakamada.
Despite receiving a death sentence, it was delayed because of drawn-out appeals and the retrial process.The previous four cases all ended with acquittals.
