A three-party talk was held at the Tokyo High Court regarding the retrial of the so-called "Hakamada Incident" and the redoing of the trial.
Regarding the results of the defense's appraisal, the court has indicated that it will call an expert as a witness for the first time to hear their opinions, and the defense team will proceed with schedule adjustments in the future.
Iwao Hakamada (86) was sentenced to death in 1966 for the murder of four family members in Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City, but he has filed a retrial for innocence.
On the 14th, a private discussion was held by the court, a lawyer, and the prosecution, and the defense team held a press conference after the discussion.
In the case, about a year after the arrest, clothing with blood stains was found in the miso tank near the scene, and it was alleged that Mr. Hakata was wearing it at the time of the crime, but the defense submitted the expert opinion. However, the redness of the blood cannot remain after being soaked in miso for more than a year, and it is claimed that the evidence was forged.
On the other hand, the prosecution argued that the results of the defense's appraisal were not recognized as new evidence based on the experiments conducted independently.
According to the defense team, at the meeting on the 14th, the court indicated that it would call the expert who made the appraisal on the defense side as a witness to hear the opinion.
It is the first time that witnesses have been called in the discussions that have been held since last year at the Tokyo High Court, and the defense team will proceed with schedule adjustments with experts in the future.
Attorney Manabu Sasamori of the defense team said, "The court has shown a positive attitude. I think it is a passing point for good results."