Posthumous Retrial

Last week a Japanese high court approved a posthumous retrial for a man convicted of robbing and murdering a 69 year old woman in 1984 in western Japan.  This story caught my interest because it I think it is very unusual to grant a retrial after the convicted person is already dead. I'm in favor of granting a posthumous retrial in cases where the conviction is clearly wrong, but I think prosecutors and judges aren't willing to expend time and money in these cases.  

In this case, Hiromu Sakahara, died in prison at age 75 in 2011. He was convicted of killing a liquor store manager in Shiga Prefecture and stealing her cash box, resulting in a life sentence.  If he is acquitted, it will be the first postwar criminal case brought by the family of a convict given a life or a death sentence to be successfully overturned. The Osaka High Court said the case warrants an acquittal citing clear new evidence. Sakahara claimed to have an alibi of drinking and sleeping at a friend's house at the time of the murder, but then made a confession to the crime after being beaten by police officers, and later tried to recant but was convicted anyway. 

I will be watching the news to find more information on this case. I hope Mr. Sakahara's family members get a result before they are also dead.