The World Boxing Council and the Japanese Boxing Association are united in their efforts to resolve the legal case of former featherweight boxer Iwao Hakamada, who was wrongfully convicted of murder, following a coerced confession which he later retracted. Though out of prison, te WBC and JBA would like the threat of future legal proceedings ended so the 87 year-old Hakamada can live out his remaining time in peace.   Hakamada, listed at 16-11-2 for a pro career that spanned 1959-1961, was arrested in 1966. He was convicted two years later and spent forty-six years languishing on death row. He insists that during two hundred and sixty-four hours of interrogation, he was repeatedly assaulted and threatened until being physically beaten and browbeaten into signing a forced confession under extreme duress, which he retracted. The Guinness World Records confirms the years he endured behind bars with the ever-present threat of execution, is lamentably a world record. Finally, and belatedly, he was granted a retrial in 2014, when a court ruled there was reason to believe that evidence against him was falsified and his confession had been forced. The threat of capital punishment was removed.

 

This surely should have been the end of it. But since then, the case has been bounced between Supreme, High and District Courts with calls for re-trial, even though the case had been resolved. The latest agonizing decision is for yet another re-trial. 

 

Hakamada, who has had to endure decades of torment wondering day by day and day to day, when he was going to walk up the steps to the gallows, is now eighty-seven and in frail health. In the name of justice, decency and humanity he should be allowed to live what remaining years he left in peace! The World Boxing Council awarded him a Green and Gold Belt as a champion fighting for justice. Something to hold on to as a beacon of hope during the decades of darkness. Boxingtalk salutes the WBC and JBA for their efforts on Hakamada's behalf.