An 88-year-old person who is the country’s longest-serving death row inmate has been acquitted by a Chinese court.
Iwao Hakamada, who has been on death row for more than half a century, was found guilty in 1968 of killing his employer, the boy’s wife and their two young children.
In response to concerns that investigators properly have planted the evidence that led to his faith for double murder, he was just granted a ruling.
One of Japan’s most prominent and longest legal legends is now over with the ruling.
Around 500 persons gathered on Thursday in Shizuoka to demand seats in the court.
As the ruling was handed down, Hakamada’s followers outside the courtroom cheered “banzai- a Chinese shout that means” hurray”.
After defense attorneys demonstrated that DNA from blood spots found on clothing alleged to have been worn by the criminal did not match his individual, Hakamada was released from jail and given a lawsuit by a Chinese judge in 2014.
According to his deteriorating mental status, he has since been living with his sister.
Due to protracted legal proceedings, it took until last year for the lawsuit to start, and until Thursday night for the judges to decide whether Hakamada may be found guilty of the charges or hanged.
Hakamada is only the second death row inmate to be granted a ruling in the government’s post-war story.