Hakamata, who spent about 48 years on death row before his release in 2014, was cleared of all charges by the Shizuoka District Court on Sept. 26. His case marks the fifth instance in post-war Japan where retrials have led to acquittals following death sentences.
The Shizuoka Prefectural Police chief, Takayoshi Tsuda, addressed the prolonged legal process on Wednesday, saying, "We feel sorry that Mr. Hakamata was placed in an unstable legal status for a long time."
Hakamata, who was released from prison in 2014 after new evidence emerged, was recognized that year as the world's longest-serving death row inmate by Guinness World Records.
