Japan: Death-row inmate refused to sign petition for death-penalty abolition

Japanese Death Row

Masaru Okunishi, the 86-year-old death-row inmate convicted of killing 5 and injuring 12 with poisoned wine in 1961, had refused to sign a petition that demanded the abolishment of the death penalty, a source who has visited Okunishi at a detention center revealed on May 25.

According to Shozo Ino, 73, an Okunishi supporter included on the approved visitors list for the inmate, Fusakichi Kawamura -- another supporter approved for visits who has since passed away -- had asked Okunishi in the mid-1990s for his signature on a humanitarian organization's petition for the abolishment of the death penalty.

Ino revealed that after some silence, Okunishi told Kawamura, "I believe that those who have actually committed crimes may deserve the death penalty. But because I haven't done anything, there's no need to abolish the death penalty."

Kawamura had also suggested at the time that Okunishi apply for a pardon, but the inmate refused on the same grounds. "People who have committed crimes can be pardoned. But because I have not done anything, I have no need of one," Okunishi is said to have replied.

"From a death-row inmate's point of view, making those 2 moves could have worked in his favor," Ino said. "But Okunishi probably didn't accept the suggestions because he's a straight-thinking person; not the kind of person who plots strategies."

In the mid-1990s, Okunishi's case was moving from his 5th and 6th petitions for a retrial. In 1993, Okunishi's objection to a rejection of his 5th petition for a retrial was dismissed by the Nagoya High Court. The special appeal that he subsequently made to the Supreme Court was dismissed in 1997, which led to him to lodge a 6th petition for a retrial.

On May 25, the Nagoya High Court reversed an earlier high court decision to reopen Okunishi's case, thereby rejecting the inmate's 7th petition.

Source: The Mainichi, May 25, 2012