Innocent former defendant `` Do not repeat enemies '' From Matsukawa incident, August 21, 1970, 17:24
Shortly after the war, 70 years have passed since the Matsukawa incident, when the railroad track of the former National Railway was removed by someone in Fukushima City, the train derailed, and three people died.
In this case where all the arrested and prosecuted people were later acquitted, a former defendant man who was once sentenced to death sentenced his desire to not repeat the damage of the conviction.
“Matsukawa Incident” was the case of the former National Railway Tohoku Line in Matsukawa-cho, Fukushima City in August 1949, when the rail of the railway line was removed by someone and the train passed through was derailed and capsized, and three crew members died .
Twenty people, including trade union leaders, were arrested and prosecuted, and all were convicted of death penalty and indefinite imprisonment in the first trial, but 14 years after the incident, all were found innocent and the largest post-war punishment case It is also called.
70 months have passed since the incident this month. On the 21st, Mr. Ichiji Abe (95), who was sentenced to death by one of the former defendants, held a press conference.
In this, Mr. Abe said, “I spent a long time of 14 years in trial and wasted, and my family was forced to have a hard life for many years, such as hitting a stone when I went to school.” I looked back on that time.
“We didn't hear me at all. The fact that the crimes are still happening nationwide is a sign that proper investigation and fair trials have not been thoroughly implemented. I would like the lesson learned from the Matsukawa incident. " 70 years have passed since the incident, and 20 former defendants, including Abe, have now become two.
While the weathering of the incident is an issue, Fukushima University is also making efforts to convey lessons, such as collecting materials related to the incident.
Mr. Abe said, “There are many people who are studying the Matsukawa incident, so I would like you to cooperate and continue to pass on to future generations.”