The world's longest-serving death row inmate has been acquitted of a murder conviction after being wrongly convicted for a crime in 1968.
Iwao Hakamada, who was a former boxer, was exonerated on Thursday (September 26) after over 50 years.
He was originally sentenced to death six decades ago after being found guilty of murdering his then-boss, the man's wife, and their two teenage children, per Daily Mail.
He was put behind bars after drops of blood were discovered on his clothes and a confession following a brutal 264-hour interrogation in which he was not allowed to drink water or use the toilet. He also claims he was physically beaten.
The 88-year-old, who spent 46 years on death row and a further 10 awaiting retrial, was granted a retrial in 2014 and was released from prison after DNA evidence surfaced.
He was officially acquitted of his crimes this week after the Shizuoka District Court declared: "The court finds the defendant innocent."
Hakamada, whose physical and mental health deteriorated during his long imprisonment, was not present at the ruling and has been represented by his 91-year-old sister, Hideko Hakamada, who has campaigned tirelessly on his behalf.
According to The Guardian, Judge Koshi Kunii said the three pieces of evidence that were used in the original trial had been fabricated, including the ex-boxer's “confession” and his blood-stained clothes.
“Investigators tampered with clothes by getting blood on them,” the ruling said, slamming the use of “inhumane interrogations meant to force a statement … by imposing mental and physical pain”.
"The prosecution’s records were obtained by effectively infringing on the defendant’s right to remain silent, under circumstances extremely likely to elicit a false confession," they added, cited by the publication.
Amnesty International said Hakamada's initial conviction had also been based primarily on a coerced confession.
"During his first trial, Hakamada was convicted of the murder of his employer and his employer's family, largely based on a forced 'confession.' He 'confessed' to the crime after 20 days of interrogation by police," the statement read.
"Hakamada proceeded to retract the 'confession' during the trial, alleging that police had threatened and beaten him," the human rights group added.
Speaking outside the court, Hideyo Ogawa, Hakamada's lead lawyer, welcomed the verdict: "The court clearly said this important evidence had been fabricated, so now prosecutors no longer have any means to prove the conviction. I believe this verdict will conclude the battle."
