Timeline of the Hakamada Case: From Arrest to Death Sentence
The Hakamada case has been a deeply troubling issue for many people over the years. Here, we provide a chronological summary of the major events from the arrest of Iwao Hakamada to his death sentence.
1966
• June 30: A murder occurs in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture (now Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City), where four members of a family are killed at the home of an executive of a miso manufacturing company.
• August: Iwao Hakamada is arrested as the suspect in the case.
• September: Hakamada confesses to the crime.
1968
• January: Iwao Hakamada is sentenced to death.
Afterward
• 1972: The death sentence is upheld by the Supreme Court.
• 1980s: Hakamada’s sister, Hideko Hakamada, begins filing for a retrial.
• 1995: The defense team requests DNA testing.
• 2008: The defense team announces that the bloodstains on the clothing alleged to have been worn by Hakamada at the time of the crime do not match Hakamada’s blood.
• 2014: The Shizuoka District Court decides to start a retrial.
• 2018: The Tokyo High Court overturns the decision to start a retrial.
• 2020: The Supreme Court dismisses a special appeal, confirming the High Court’s decision.
Key Points of the Case
• Forced Confession: Iwao Hakamada claims that his confession was coerced after a long and intense interrogation.
• Evidence Fabrication Suspicions: The results of DNA testing, which showed that the bloodstains on the clothing allegedly worn during the crime were not Hakamada’s, have raised suspicions of evidence fabrication.
• Turbulent Retrial Requests: Although a decision to start a retrial was initially made, it was later overturned, marking a long and arduous journey for the retrial requests.
Background of the Case
• Death Penalty System: This case has sparked widespread debate about the death penalty system in Japan and the potential for wrongful convictions.
• Criminal Justice System: The case has highlighted issues with the criminal justice system, such as police interrogation practices and evidence collection methods.
• Forensic Science: The importance and limitations of forensic science, including DNA testing, have been brought to light once again.
Aftermath of the Case
Iwao Hakamada was released following the decision to start a retrial in 2014. However, the retrial was canceled by the High Court in 2018, effectively reinstating the death sentence.
Summary
The Hakamada case is one of the longest and most complex cases in Japan’s criminal justice history. It is not just a case of wrongful conviction but one that vividly illustrates the flaws in the judicial system and the disregard for human rights.
This case deserves attention as it involves investigative authorities fabricating evidence in an attempt to execute an innocent person, reflecting an inability to correct the errors once an arrest has been made.
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