Don't let Japan send Hakamada back to death row....., by Deleted on Aug 20, 2014 17:20:23 GMT 1, Amnesty International UK
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This March, images of a frail, elderly man walking out of a Japanese detention centre made the news around the world. Hakamada Iwao had been on death row longer than anyone else in recorded history. He awaited execution every minute of every day for 46 years.

Hakamada was sentenced to execution all those years ago based only on a confession forced out of him under duress, which he later retracted. No evidence linked him to the crime. One of the judges at Hakamada's original trial has repeatedly stated that he believes him to be innocent, and wrongly imprisoned.

46 years after that trial, new DNA evidence could prove Hakamada's claims of innocence true. After examining this evidence, Japan Shizuoka district court suspended the death sentence, released him and granted him a retrial. The court pointed out the likelihood that the evidence against Hakamada was fabricated, calling any further attempts to keep him in prison ‘unforgivably’ unjust.

But the prosecution have appealed his retrial – they want to send Hakamada back to death row.

www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/hakamada-iwao-japan-death-row?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Prospect%20&utm_campaign=Death%20Penalty&utm_content=Button%202

Amnesty International UK
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This March, images of a frail, elderly man walking out of a Japanese detention centre made the news around the world. Hakamada Iwao had been on death row longer than anyone else in recorded history. He awaited execution every minute of every day for 46 years.

Hakamada was sentenced to execution all those years ago based only on a confession forced out of him under duress, which he later retracted. No evidence linked him to the crime. One of the judges at Hakamada's original trial has repeatedly stated that he believes him to be innocent, and wrongly imprisoned.

46 years after that trial, new DNA evidence could prove Hakamada's claims of innocence true. After examining this evidence, Japan Shizuoka district court suspended the death sentence, released him and granted him a retrial. The court pointed out the likelihood that the evidence against Hakamada was fabricated, calling any further attempts to keep him in prison ‘unforgivably’ unjust.

But the prosecution have appealed his retrial – they want to send Hakamada back to death row.

www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/hakamada-iwao-japan-death-row?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Prospect%20&utm_campaign=Death%20Penalty&utm_content=Button%202