INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
used against him was fabricated.Iwao Hakamada, who has been on death row for more than half a century, was found guilty in 1968 of killing
planted evidence that led to his conviction for quadruple murder.More than half a century spent on death row has taken a heavy toll on
under the care of his 91-year-old sister Hideko since 2014, when he was freed from jail and granted a retrial.He previously told the AFP
All four had been stabbed to death.Authorities accused Hakamada of murdering the family, setting fire to their home and stealing 200,000 yen
in cash.Hakamada initially denied having robbed and murdered the victims, but later gave what he came to describe as a coerced confession
following beatings and interrogations that lasted up to 12 hours a day.In 1968 he was convicted of murder and arson, and sentenced to
from the clothes did not match his, raising the possibility that the items belonged to someone else
The lawyers further suggested that police could have fabricated the evidence.Their argument was enough to persuade Judge Hiroaki Murayama,
retrial.Prolonged legal proceedings meant that it took until last year for that retrial to begin - and until Thursday morning for the court
to declare the verdict.While the DNA argument was quashed, the judge found another argument by defence lawyers credible - that the red
that it took until last year for that retrial to begin - and until Thursday morning for the court to declare the verdict.While the DNA
argument was quashed, the judge found another argument by defence lawyers credible - that the red stains found on the clothes could not have
