In the so-called "Hakamada Incident," the court allowed a retrial on the 13th, citing suspicions that the investigative agency had fabricated evidence, and redoing the trial. A police officer told NHK, "I don't think it's a fabrication, but it's the police and prosecutors' loss that they couldn't prove it sufficiently."
The Tokyo High Court issued a decision on the 13th, regarding the blood-stained "five items of clothing" found in a miso tank near the scene more than a year after Iwao Hakamada's arrest, "a considerable period of time has passed since the incident." It is extremely likely that the investigative agency hid it after the passage of time.It is absolutely impossible to identify Mr. Hakamada as the culprit.”
Regarding this clothing, a former police officer in his 80s who searched the miso tank 57 years ago, four days after the incident, told NHK before the decision was made to start the retrial, ``I used something like a long stick. I did a thorough search, but I couldn't find it in the tank. It's almost impossible to overlook something as big as clothing, and I didn't do such a lenient verification.I feel strange that it was found after a year." was doing.
In response to the Tokyo High Court's decision, the former police officer said, "When the clothes were discovered, I was out of the investigation, so I don't know what the situation was." I think, but it was the police and prosecutors who were unable to provide sufficient proof," he said.
Reception of legal and prosecutorial executives
Regarding the decision to start a retrial of the Hakamada case, legal and prosecutorial executives have various reactions.
One senior prosecutor said, "I didn't think I would absolutely win, but I thought my request would not be granted. This case carries a lot of weight because the prosecution sought the death penalty. What do you think about the court's decision?" We have to seriously and carefully consider whether we should deal with it."
Another executive said, "The court even pointed out the suspicion that the investigative agency fabricated evidence, but I think it's impossible."
One executive who has experience in handling other retrial cases said, "In retrial cases, it is difficult to judge the relationship of evidence in old cases based on the current judicial sensibilities. We should think carefully about how much influence it will have on the judgment."
Justice Minister Saito Disclosure of Evidence in Retrial Request Trial "Scheduled to be Discussed at Council"
At a press conference after the cabinet meeting, Minister of Justice Saito said that the law that stipulates the retrial procedure does not have provisions for the disclosure of evidence, saying, ``Since July last year, it has been composed of experts, three legal professionals, and officials from the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Justice. We are holding a conference on criminal procedures, and we plan to discuss disclosure of evidence in retrials."
On top of that, he said, "The Ministry of Justice would like to respond appropriately so that consultations can be carried out in a fulfilling manner."