The retrial of Iwao Hakamada, who was sentenced to death for the murder of four members of his family in Shizuoka Prefecture 58 years ago, is reaching its climax, with the biggest issue being bloodstains on ``5 pieces of clothing.'' Examination of expert witnesses regarding color began on the 25th.
The retrial of Iwao Hakamada (88), who was sentenced to death for the murder of a family of four at a miso manufacturing company in what is now Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City in 1966, 58 years ago, will be centered on the questioning of expert witnesses. started.
The biggest issue in the retrial is whether it was unnatural that the blood stains on the "5 items of clothing" found in a miso tank near the crime scene 1 year and 2 months after the incident were stained with red. It has become.
Of the two forensic scientists for the prosecution who were questioned on the 25th, Professor Yoshiro Kanda of Kurume University said, ``We cannot deny the possibility that redness remains, and it is impossible to completely prove that it does not remain.'' ” he said.
On the other hand, Professor Emeritus Noriaki Ikeda of Kyushu University said, ``I don't think there is any particular problem'' regarding the defense expert's opinion that ``blood does not remain red if it is soaked in miso for more than a year.'' said.
In addition, he said, ``We should have conducted experiments to examine the factors that prevent the chemical change that causes bloodstains to turn black when soaked in miso.''
Witness interviews will be held for three consecutive days, and on the 26th, experts requested by the defense will be questioned.