A Japanese court is set to hand down its verdict in the retrial of 88-year-old Iwao Hakamata, the world's longest-serving death row convict. Hakamata was sentenced to death in 1968 for a murder case that has brought global scrutiny to Japan's criminal justice system. The retrial comes after new evidence was presented by Hakamata's lawyers, arguing his innocence, while prosecutors maintained there was enough evidence to confirm his guilt.
The case dates back to 1966 when a family was found murdered in their home, with Hakamata becoming the prime suspect. Despite initially confessing to the crime, Hakamata later retracted his statement, alleging that the police had coerced him into confessing through beatings and threats. He was sentenced to death in a controversial 2-1 decision by judges.
