悩める裁判員経験者・似蛭田妖のブログ

I requested this press conference because I want people to understand that Japan's lay judge system causes suffering to the people. In 2018, I was forced to participate in a father-daughter arson murder trial in Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and I have been suffering ever since. There were times when I wanted to die. Being unable to say anything is even more painful since revealing the details of the deliberations could result in up to six months in prison. The reason I'm suffering is because I think this case is a case of false accusation. The presiding judge initially said, ``This is a trial with a choice between the death penalty or innocence,'' but there are many contradictions in the prosecution's story, and it is difficult to believe the claims of the police officers. I did not believe that this incident was properly investigated and evidence was collected. Finally, in the council room, the presiding judge asked whether the defendant was guilty or not guilty. Of the six regular citizen judges, only one answered ``guilty'' unequivocally. However, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. I must continue to suffer.