He couldn't believe what was happening while waiting to be executed for nearly half a century!

The boxer, who was sentenced to death in Japan in 1966 for allegedly killing four people, could not be executed due to insufficient evidence. The case of boxer Iwao Hakamata, who waited in prison for 46 years for his execution, concluded nearly half a century later with his acquittal. The court apologized to Hakamata, who is now 88 years old and had been waiting for his execution for 46 years.

The decision was made in the retrial of 88-year-old former boxer Iwao Hakamata, who was sentenced to death in 1966 for allegedly killing four people in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, but was released after waiting in prison for 46 years due to insufficient evidence.

IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE EVIDENCE WAS FABRICATED

The Shizuoka District Court ruled that the investigation file contained "fabricated evidence," including five pieces of clothing allegedly worn by Hakamata at the time of the incident and the police's forced confession. The court decided on Hakamata's acquittal. After the ruling, Chief Judge Koshi Kunii apologized to Hakamata, stating, "We are truly sorry as a court for the length of time this case has taken."

In a statement after the decision, 91-year-old sister Hideko Hakamata, who represented Hakamata in the hearings during the retrial that began last October, said, "We have been acquitted. Thank you to everyone who supported us over the years." In a statement from the Shizuoka Prefectural Police Headquarters, which drew attention after the ruling, it was noted that a necessary explanation would be made to the public after a detailed review of the decision.

HE CLAIMED TO HAVE GIVEN A CONFESSION UNDER TORTURE

Fumio Hashiguchi, a senior executive at a factory in Shizuoka, was found dead on June 30, 1966, along with his wife and two children, while Hakamata, who worked at the factory as a live-in employee, was arrested two months after the murders. In his initial statement, Hakamata admitted responsibility for the murders, robbery, and the fire at the crime scene, but later claimed that he had given a confession under torture and maintained his innocence. Hakamata was sentenced to death in 1968 and was released in 2014 to be tried without detention due to doubts about insufficient evidence.

To prove his innocence, Hakamata, along with his family, initiated a legal battle, which yielded results last year when the Tokyo High Court ruled for Hakamata's retrial due to insufficient evidence. Additionally, the lower court's decision not to return Hakamata to prison was upheld. Hakamata was known as the inmate who waited the longest for execution in prison after receiving the death penalty.