Japanese, 93, Marks 30 Years on Death Row
A 93-year-old prisoner marked his 30th year on death row Tuesday, just as the Tokyo District Court decided to review his case, Kyodo News Service reported.
Sadamichi Hirasawa was convicted for the 1948 poisoning murders of 12 Tokyo bank employees during a robbery. Court records say the robber, posing as a public health official, duped 16 bank employees into swallowing cyanide and 12 died.
Hirasawa was given the death sentence May 7, 1955, but since then has filed numerous appeals.
Hirasawa, who last appeared before a judge in September, 1959, has appealed for release from prison under the 30-year statute of limitations, Kyodo reported.
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