AFTER 44 YEARS ON DEATH ROW, JAPANESE MAN IS EXONERATED AT AGE 88

death row

the cells in a prison for prisoners who are waiting to be killed as punishment for a serious crime

exonerate

to officially state that somebody is not responsible for something that they have been blamed for

inmate

one of the people living in an institution such as a prison or a psychiatric hospital

retrial

a new trial of a person whose criminal offence has already been judged once in court

grant (a retrial)

to agree to give somebody what they ask for, especially formal or legal permission to do something

be convicted of

to decide and state officially in court that somebody is guilty of a crime

quadruple

four times

frabricated evidence

fake evidence

testify

to make a statement that something happened or that something is true, especially as a witness in court

interrogate sb

to ask somebody a lot of questions over a long period of time, especially in an aggressive way

deprive sb of sth

to prevent somebody from having or doing something, especially something important

retract (one’s confession)

to say that something you have said earlier is not true or correct or that you did not mean it

side with

to support one person or group in an argument against somebody else

acquittal

an official decision in court that a person is not guilty of a crime

deteriorating

becoming worse

(human right) activist

person who works to achieve political or social change, especially as a member of an organization with particular aims

recognition of

public praise and reward for somebody’s work or actions

injustice

​the fact of a situation being unfair and of people not being treated equally; an unfair act or an example of unfair treatment

misattribute a comment

to wrongly say or think that someone or something has a particular quality or feature as a result of someone or something else