World's longest-serving death row inmate acquitted

Mr. Hakamada was convicted of murdering his boss, his wife, and their two children in 1966.

Hakamada, a former professional boxer, has been serving 48 years in prison, the longest sentence of any death row inmate in the world, according to the BBC and NHK. He was recently retried amid suspicions that investigators may have planted evidence that led to his conviction for four murders.

In 2014, Mr. Hakamada was released and granted a retrial after defense lawyers demonstrated that DNA from blood found on clothing believed to belong to the killer did not match his.

Mr. Hakamada has since lived with his sister, who has been caring for him due to his physical and mental health after his long detention. He has consistently maintained his innocence and said investigators forced him to confess, while his lawyer has accused the police of falsifying evidence.

Due to lengthy legal proceedings, it was not until last year that the retrial began, and it was not until this morning, September 26, that the court announced that Mr. Hakamada was cleared of the charges.

The new verdict brings an end to one of Japan's longest and most high-profile cases and makes Mr Hakamada only the fifth death row inmate to be retried in Japan's postwar history.

The case attracted widespread public attention, with about 500 people lining up outside the Shizuoka District Court hoping to secure a seat in the courtroom. When the verdict was delivered, Hakamada's supporters outside the courthouse cheered and applauded.