A Japanese court has acquitted an 88-year-old former boxer in a retrial for a 1966 quadruple murder, overturning a previous decision that had made him the world's longest-serving death row inmate. Iwao Hakamada's acquittal by the Shizuoka District Court marks the fifth time a death-row convict has been found not guilty in postwar Japanese criminal justice, potentially reigniting the debate around abolishing the death penalty in Japan.
The presiding judge of the court acknowledged multiple fabrications of evidence and declared Hakamada not guilty, according to his lawyer. Hakamada's 91-year-old sister expressed gratitude for the support received during the 58-year legal battle, celebrating her brother's acquittal with a smile and cheers outside the courthouse.
