Okunishi Masaru has spent more than half his life on death row in Japan, knowing he could be executed any day.
In 1961, he was accused of poisoning 5 women and 'confessed' after prolonged police interrogation. He retracted his confession as soon as trial began, and was acquitted for lack of evidence. But a higher court reversed the decision, and sentenced Okunishi to death.
Okunishi's lawyers have repeatedly requested a retrial, without success. Okunishi is now 87 years-old and his health is failing him, he slips in and out of consciousness and is unable to breathe on his own. But he's desperate for a chance to clear his name before he dies.
Call on Japanese authorities to grant Okunishi Masaru a retrial
Together with Amnesty International supporters in Japan, we are calling on the Japanese Prosecutor-General to grant Okunishi Masaru a retrial.
Your name will be delivered to the Prosecutor-General by Amnesty International supporters in Japan.
Petition text:
To: Hiroshi Odu, Prosecutor-General, Japan
I request you to ensure that the prosecution does not block appeals being made to grant a retrial for Okunishi Masaru.
Mr. Okunishi, who spent more than half of his life in prison, currently has a severe health problem. He was sentenced to death based on a force "confession," and he has been claiming his innocence every since. The evidence against him is weak.
Therefore, I request you not to block the retrial. I also urge you to improvement the treatment of death row inmates, including an end to solitary confinement.
小津博司検事総長 確定死刑囚奥西勝さんの再審請求を阻むことなく、速やかに再審を始めることを求め、お手紙を差し上げます。人生の半分以上を獄中で過ごしてきた奥西さんは、現在深刻な健康問題を抱えています。強制された「自白」を根拠とした死刑判決から彼は一貫して無実を訴えています。また、彼を犯人だと裏付ける証拠も乏しいです。 従って、私は奥西さんの再審に向けた動きを阻むことのないよう要請します。加えて、独居拘禁の見直しを始めとする死刑囚の処遇をただちに改善するよう求めます
Source: Amnesty International, July 26, 2013
