2) Another Death Row Farce

Iwao Hakamada, a former boxer, has been freed from death row in Japan this week after 48 years. FORTY-EIGHT YEARS. He holds the Guinness world record for longest stint on death row, but I imagine that will be of little consolation after having pretty much his entire life stolen from him.

DNA evidence clearing the 78-year-old’s name recently came to light. Mr Hakamada was sentenced to death for fatally stabbing the family of four he worked for, and torching their home in Shizuoka, Japan in 1966. The blood splatter on his clothes that were used at his trial were proven not to be from any of the victims.

At the time of the crime police interrogated him for 20 days and he eventually confessed under duress. During the trial he said the confession had been beaten out of him, but his luck was out. Amnesty International reports that forced confessions are still pretty common in Japan, and this case demonstrates clearly why they can’t always be relied upon as evidence.

Poor bloke.

☛ More:

Death Row Prisoner Released After 30 Years Behind Bars

3 Disturbing Cases Of Innocent People Being Executed In The UK