Tripartite talks for retrial of Hino Town case, prosecutor says no objection to interrogation of evidence

The fifth three-way conference was held at the Otsu District Court on the 7th for the retrial (retrial) of Hiroshi Sakahara (deceased), who was sentenced to life imprisonment for robbery and murder in the 1984 ``Hinocho Incident'' in which a female liquor store owner was murdered in Hinocho, Shiga Prefecture. According to a press conference held by the defense team after the consultation, the prosecution responded that they had no objection to not examining the evidence used to prove guilt in the original trial.

The defense requested the handling of such evidence. The evidence includes an investigation report that states that Sakahara personally guided the suspect to the scene where the body was discovered, and a written statement that states that he confessed to the crime.

The prosecution has already announced that they will not plead guilty or present any new evidence of guilt at the retrial, so it is likely that he will be acquitted at the retrial. Chief defense attorney Ryota Ishikawa commented, ``Now, no evidence of Mr. Sakahara's guilt will be produced in the retrial. We are one step closer to being completely innocent.''

The next tripartite meeting is scheduled for October 15th. The date for the first retrial hearing has not been set.