He's the world's longest-serving death row inmate. A court just declared him innocent

[mahatmakanejeeves]

He’s the world’s longest-serving death row inmate. A court just declared him innocent

By Lex Harvey, Yumi Asada and Hanako Montgomery, CNN
5 minute read
Updated 5:09 AM EDT, Thu September 26, 2024


Hakamata was arrested on August 18, 1966, when he was 30 years old. Hakamata Defense Lawyers

Tokyo (CNN) — A pair of blood-spattered trousers in a miso tank and an allegedly forced confession helped send Iwao Hakamata to death row in the 1960s.

Now, more than five decades later, the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner has been declared innocent, according to public broadcaster NHK.

{snip}

[tazcat]

1. Finally free - unbelievable, at least

he has his big sis and kitties now

[multigraincracker]

2. The death penalty needs safeguards.

One way might be, if the person is found innocent later by new evidence, the jury and judge will be executed too.

[rpannier]

3. In Japan that should be the police and prosecutors

The police have tremendous powers, as does the public prosecutor, when you're arrested.
They can hold you for a little over 3 weeks, w/o benefit of attorney, or letting your family know you've been arrested
At the end of that time, they can tack on additional charges and then hold you for another 3+weeks and so on.
The police can question you non-stop for 12 hours a day

This is why the conviction rate is so high in Japan -- people crack. Those that don't are just released if they don't have the evidence to get a slam-dunk conviction

[3Hotdogs]

4. Prosecutor? Probably, if evidence was. withheld. Detectives and cops, if found lying or fabricating/withholding

evidence.

Judges? Less likely, if they sentenced, based on false....

Better idea: Eliminate the death penalty.

[multigraincracker]

6. The law states "beyond a Shadow of Doubt ".

Their actions resulted in the death of an innocent person. Yet they skate, no penalty.
My point is, there should not be a death penalty.
Those that support the death penalty say if you take someone’s life the penalty should be death. I say ok, then this makes sense too.

I do not support the death penalty because there is not justice for the victims of it.

[ColinC]

5. No safeguard can keep an innocent person from being killed by it

The only way to do that would be to not have the death penalty

[multigraincracker]

7. That's my point.

I use the arguments for it to end it.