Japanese Prosecutor Apologizes to Hakamata after Acquittal

   Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Pref., Nov. 27 (Jiji Press)--The head of a public prosecutors' office in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Wednesday apologized directly to Iwao Hakamata, who was recently acquitted in a retrial decades after he was convicted over the 1966 murder of four people.
   Hideo Yamada, head of the Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office, visited the home of Hakamata in the city of Hamamatsu to meet with the 88-year-old former death-row inmate.
   Shizuoka District Court last September acquitted Hakamata, ruling that evidence was fabricated by investigation authorities.
   In response, Prosecutor-General Naomi Unemoto said the ruling was unacceptable and should be reviewed by a higher court.
   Lawyers for Hakamata criticized Unemoto, saying the remarks regard him as a criminal and could be accused of defamation.

(2024/11/27-12:17)

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