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JAPANESE COURTS CAUGHT RED-HANDED FABRICATING EVIDENCE IN DEATH PENALTY CASE

CORRUPTED LEGAL SYSTEM NEARLY KIILLD AN INNOCENT MAN, 88


Indicted for murder, robbery and arson, his death sentence was finalized based on a ruling that blood marks on the five clothing items found in a miso tank 14 months after the murder matched the blood types of the victims and Hakamata.

He initially confessed to the killings during intense interrogation, but he pleaded not guilty at his trial.

The following is a chronology of major events related to the 1966 murder of four people in Shizuoka Prefecture.

June 30, 1966 -- Four members of family, including two children, found murdered in ruins of miso processing company executive's burned-down house in Shizuoka Prefecture.

August -- Former professional boxer Iwao Hakamata arrested on suspicion of murder-robbery.

August 1967 -- Bloodstained clothing discovered in factory's miso tank.

September 1968 -- Hakamata sentenced to death.

December 1980 -- Supreme Court finalizes capital punishment.

April 1981 -- Hakamata files first appeal for retrial.

August 1994 -- Shizuoka District Court turns down appeal, prompting defense team to appeal to Tokyo High Court.

August 2004 -- Tokyo High Court turns down appeal, prompting defense team to file special appeal the next month.

March 2008 -- Supreme Court turns down special appeal.

April -- Hakamata's sister Hideko files second appeal.

March 27, 2014 -- Shizuoka District Court decides to reopen Hakamata case, Hakamata freed.

March 31 -- Prosecutors appeal decision to reopen case.

June 11, 2018 -- Tokyo High Court rules against reopening case.

June 18 -- Defense team files special appeal to Supreme Court.

Dec. 22, 2020 -- Supreme Court sends case back to Tokyo High Court.

March 13, 2023 -- Tokyo High Court rules in favor of reopening case.

March 20 -- Prosecutors give up filing special appeal, ruling for retrial finalized.

October 27 -- Shizuoka District Court holds first hearing in retrial of Hakamata.

May 22, 2024 -- Prosecutors demand death penalty in final hearing.

Sept. 26 -- Hakamata acquitted by Shizuoka District Court.


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