Japan’s Shizuoka District Court will soon deliver its verdict on Iwao Hakamada, the world’s longest-serving death row inmate. The decision comes a decade after Hakamada was released from prison in 2014 pending a retrial of his murder conviction, reports AFP. Now, Hakamada, 88, can walk out as a free man after 46 years and nearly six decades of legal turmoil.
A former professional boxer, Hakamada was convicted in 1968 for the murder of his boss, his wife, and their two children. The brutal murders took place in June 1966. The family was stabbed to death before their home was set on fire. Hakamada, who worked at a soybean processing plant owned by the victims, was arrested and confessed to the crime after being questioned by police over several days. He later admitted his guilt and claimed the confession was coerced through violence and threats.
The main reason behind Hakamada’s conviction was blood-soaked clothing found in a miso tank a year after the murders. Prosecutors argued that the blood belonged to the victims, but defense lawyers claimed police had fabricated evidence for years to ensure a conviction. The defense’s argument gained momentum in 2014 when DNA tests on the clothing found the blood did not match Hakamada or the victims, leading the court to allow a retrial.
Despite this, prosecutors continue to argue that the evidence against Hakamada is strong and say there is no doubt about his guilt. According to AFP, authorities said they are convinced of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, while Hakamada’s lawyers are seeking a complete acquittal.
Human rights activists have long denounced Japan’s so-called “hostage justice” system, where suspects are detained for long periods and subjected to aggressive interrogation, often resulting in forced confessions.
For nearly half a century, Iwao Hakamada lived in solitary confinement, waiting for the executioner’s noose to swing at him. Japan, unlike many industrialized countries, still retains the death penalty. Executions are carried out by hanging, and prisoners are notified only a few hours before their execution.
Hakamada’s lengthy detention has taken a toll on his mental health. According to his lawyers, he often appears confused, and lives in a “fantasy world”.
His sister Hideko Hakamada, who has campaigned tirelessly for his release, said her brother struggled to recognise reality. “We have not even discussed the trial with Iwao, because he is unable to recognise reality,” Ms Hideko, now 91, told AFP. “Sometimes he smiles happily, but that’s when he’s in his delusions.”
Despite his mental state, the freedom Hakamada has enjoyed over the past decade has brought some solace. According to Ms. Hideko, small tasks such as caring for two cats he adopted in February have helped him reconnect with life outside prison walls. He also enjoys daily drives with his supporters, during which he enjoys his favorite pastries and juices.
Hakamada’s supporters gathered outside the court on Thursday, carrying banners and flags demanding his acquittal.
“For so long we have been fighting a battle that seems endless,” Hideko Hakamada said during a press conference earlier this year. “But this time, I believe it will be resolved.”
Iwao Hakamada’s legal team, led by Hideyo Ogawa, hopes the court will return a not guilty verdict, putting an end to decades of torture. “We told prosecutors that it is their responsibility to put an end to this 58-year-old case,” Mr. Ogawa told reporters. However, prosecutors are adamant that the initial sentence was fair and that Hakamada should receive the death penalty.
