A local police chief in Japan on Monday apologized in person to an 88-year-old man who spent nearly half a century on death row before being acquitted in a retrial over a 1966 quadruple murder case.
"I am sorry for the unspeakable burden and trouble we have caused you over the long 58 years from the time of your arrest to your acquittal being finalized," Takayoshi Tsuda, chief of the Shizuoka Prefectural Police, said during a visit to Iwao Hakamata's home in Hamamatsu.
It was the first time that an official of the police or prosecutors has directly apologized to Hakamata, who was arrested by Shizuoka police in 1966 but released in 2014 after new evidence cast doubt on his conviction.
Recognized the same year as the world's longest-serving death row prisoner, he was acquitted in a retrial in September, with the verdict finalized earlier this month when prosecutors decided not to appeal.
His 91-year-old sister Hideko, who was at the meeting, told Tsuda, "Now I think it was fate. At this point, I have no intention of making complaints to the police. Thank you very much for coming all the way here today."
Hakamata has difficulties communicating with others after his mental state deteriorated during his years of incarceration on death row.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Tsuda again apologized, saying "coercive and intimidating interrogation" had been used against Hakamata. "We will conduct more thorough and appropriate investigations in the future," he said.
In its Sept 26 ruling acquitting Hakamata, the Shizuoka District Court said investigators had fabricated evidence, including five pieces of clothing Hakamata allegedly wore during the incident. The items played a key role in his conviction.
The court also said his confession during questioning was "forced by inflicting physical and mental pain," calling his interrogation "inhumane."
The ruling was finalized on Oct 9, marking an end to his family's decades-long struggle for justice.
Tsuda's visit to Hakamata came after he had told reporters he intended to offer him an apology in person and that the prefectural police were "sorry that Mr. Hakamata was placed in an unstable legal status for a long time."
His remark followed a similar statement issued by Prosecutor General Naomi Unemoto apologizing to Hakamata.
The former professional boxer was a live-in employee at a miso maker when he was arrested for allegedly killing the firm's senior managing director, his wife and two of their children. They were found dead from stab wounds at their house in Shizuoka Prefecture, which had been burned down.
Indicted for murder, robbery and arson, his death sentence was finalized in 1980.
© KYODO
15 Comments
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Matt
Not really enough is it. Japanese criminal justice system again deserves a pat on the back for being completely pathetic and useless. All we hear about is mistake after mistake. The entire system needs modernising and they should all be ashamed. Just saying 'sorry' does not cut it. Where's the accountability?! This mans entire life has been wasted and they treat it as if he was given a trivial accidental parking ticket. I am ashamed of the entire system.
JeffLee
The current police chief!?? He could not have been at the station when the arrest happened six decades ago. So his words don't mean much. What about those actually responsible? The cops who investigated and planted evidence. The prosecutors who relentlessly fought his defense to keep him on death row. The judges who agreed with them and fell for phony evidence. Not a peep from them, eh.
Nice photo op, though.
MiuraAnjin
Well I never...
What's the betting that every single police officer and prosecutor involved in this travesty of justice has already shuffled off this mortal coil?
ableko45
So who is the murderer?
piskian
Should be on hands and knees at the very least.
Despicable.
Dave Fair
JeffLeeToday 05:14 pm JST
I'm guessing "those actually responsible" have all left this world and hopefully now are forced to spend eternity reflecting on their evil ways!
Mike_Oxlong
The original police chief and prosecutor should be there on their knees.
Capuchin
A solemn bow, 3 consecutive cart wheels, a back flip, a 16 minute handstand and more importantly an serious investigation into the crooked cops and corrupt system of justice that that robbed this man of the majority of his life.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Not really going to get his life back is it? At least his kids and wife should be taken care of for life.
Joe
Pay him for the forced confession and false imprisonment while you're down there, buddy.
sakurasuki
Spent 50 years being in death row line because interrogation intimidation, only to get a bow that's how Japan work. No wonder Ghosn said he escaped injustice.
Falco1
What an horrific story which brings again under the lights the brutal and unjust police/prosecution system with it’s forced confessions and few to non rights for the defendants.
Japan is a beautiful country but this is a very dark side of it more alike to totalitarian systems rather than free and modern democracies.
Besides,a simple words or thousand nice words won’t give the over 50 years stolen to this poor man which deserves a high financial compensation.
Eugene
To tell the truth, I am not sure that this guy didn't do it but the investigation by the police and prosecutors was such a fiasco they should not have gotten a conviction.
Yubaru
Would have been nice to see the living relatives of those responsible for this criminal abuse of this poor man and his family, take part in the apology!
Just like this cop is not directly responsible for what happened, he apologized, as should all the living sons, daughters, and maybe grandchildren, who put him on death row for all these years.
Their family's legacy should be tarnished as well!
Zaphod
ableko45
We will never know. But not the guy who was framed by the police.
John
neyanysfu, dead man walking