Japanese man acquitted of 1966 murders to sue state for defamation

In the ruling handed down on Sept 26, 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 the confession made during questioning by investigators was "effectively fabricated," as it was "forced by inflicting physical and mental pain," calling his interrogation "inhumane."

Wow. Just wow. He should sue.

I'm interested to know WHO interrogated him and forced a confession and WHO fabricated the evidence. This person or persons must be police and the names must be in the court records. Even if they are retired or dead, they should be named. That anyone would do this to another person is a very serious crime.

It does not seem likely the lawsuit would be successful since the prosecutor wording focus on the process, but I hope he wins.

NO CASH nor Apologies can bring back the precious years taken away from this man. People in power can ruin the lives of their victims then walk away untouched this is what Corruption looks and feels like.

If this man was put to death NO ONE would have noticed and his case would have been buried under lies and fake evidence.

Sad Story.

"" The court also said the confession made during questioning by investigators was "effectively fabricated," as it was "forced by inflicting physical and mental pain," calling his interrogation "inhumane."

Hard to accept nor believe sounds like Assad and his thugs in Syria, probably NOT just this case.

The court must order the complete investigation of all cases prosecuted by this office and see who else was abused and possibly put to death by these investigators.

The court must order the complete investigation of all cases prosecuted by this office and see who else was abused and possibly put to death by these investigators.

Totally agree. Because if they don't, they are covering up a crime. That makes them guilty. The justice system is supposed to provide justice. Not for some, but for all.

I wouldn’t expect anything less

KUDOS to the Judge who benched the retrial of this case. Congratulations Japan.

Japanese police have the tendency to force a suspect to plead guilty until proven innocent. I had a friend who got imprisoned because they forced him to sign a Japanese affidavit that he could not even read. It was a "rape" case and the victim was a guy he met online.

They should find anyone who is involved in his incarceration put them in jail - no matter how old they are

Iwao Hakamata, is so well known his name should be the headline.

The court also said the confession made during questioning by investigators was "forced by inflicting physical and mental pain,"

Wow that was torturing , is Japan a lawful country? I doubt it !

The guy and his family should sue the Police organisation.

Then the specific officers.

The government.

The whole lot. However, If i know Japan, they will allow the sands of justice and time to move slowly. So it will become a SHOGANAI, he passed away, and so any further proceedings will be mute.

I will say, this for all those who clamour for the rope, electric chair, etc, etc, there were people just like you, calling for him to be strung up. because A) he did it. B) he confessed, C) the police did their job. D) because the press had a juicy story.

I don’t understand why JT doesn’t put Hakamata’s name in the headline. We all know who he is, and referring to him as a ‘Japanese man’ kind of adds insult to injury

grcToday  10:54 am JST

I don’t understand why JT doesn’t put Hakamata’s name in the headline. We all know who he is, and referring to him as a ‘Japanese man’ kind of adds insult to injury

Totally. He has a name, and it shows respect if you use his name. Mr Hakamata!

Yesterday another man also found guilty for rape and jailed for 17 years was found innocent, released and won his case winning a 6 figure payout. We probably called him a beast, called for him to be strung up, castrated, etc etc. and yet, I can't imagine how many men/women have been sent to the gallows or jailed for years, never to get that time back. and no money in the world can ever correct it.

Iwao Hakamata is a prime reason for abolishing the death penalty.

Why do these articles about this man keep using vague titles?

A Japanese Man to sue the state ...

Use his name.

Hakamata to sue the state ... is better.

If the prosecutors and detectives are still alive they should be sued as well.

Then sent to jail.

a japanese man?

"MR HAKAMATA", if you puleeze!

It seems that those in power and yes the media don’t want to say or print "MR HAKAMATA name because they are the same institutions that were guilty for his sentencing. I’m sure during the time of reporting the crime the media was probably as guilty as the prosecution influencing his fate. This is why they ghostly print the article to save face.

His story is being told on NHK tv.

See : "58 Stolen Years - Two Siblings on the Road to Freedom"

All I can say is that his sister is an angel. She never gave up on him and looked after him after his release.

What I admire about him is that even after all these years in prison, even after the mental anguish of not knowing when he will be hanged, he still maintained his sense of humor.