FIRE, DEATH, FALSE CONFESSION, AND WRONGFUL CONVICTION:
A TALE OF TWO COUNTRIES

A Presentation to the
Law and Society Association
July 6, 2006
Baltimore, MD. USA
by
Michael H. Fox


Case Name


Higashi Sumiyoshi Case


Mark Kirk Case


Defendants


Tatsuhiro Boku(29)m
Keiko Aoki(30)f


Mark Kirk (35)m


Date of Fire


Location

July 22, 1995


Higashi Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka


Dec 3, 1996


Newark, DE
Victims



Megumi Aoki (11) f


Steve Rivera 44
Frances 17(f) Robert 8



Suspicions


1) Common Law Marriage
2) Life Insurance $120,000
3) Korean nationality
1) evening argument
2) short relationship

Confession Date + Details


Sept 10, 1995
Siphoning and igniting gasoline
with a tab lighter
Dec 5, 1996
Pouring Captain Morgan Rum on an electric burner
Arrest Motives



compile track records/
personal publicity

compile track records
Protect apt owner/insurance companies
Other Problems


Japan 99.7% conviction rate


Lawyers presumed guilt
Court Decisions

Life Imprisonment x2
Boku: March '99(District Court)
Dec '04 (High Court)
Aoki; May '99(District Court)
Oct '04 (High Court)
Supreme Court: postponed

Oct 97:Three Life Terms+
Feb 04: Felony murder convictions vacated, replaced with manslaughter(44years)

Present Support Activities


Both defendants are represented by
4 different attorneys working pro-bono;
and 2 citizen support associations.

Not represented, working pro se
Recent Developments
10/'06 Visit of American
professional fire Investigator.
05/'06 TV Broadcast "The Scoop."
06Supreme Court delays decision



06/'06 Forensic Analyst John Lentini to perform experiment.
Solutions


Publicity/Empowerment


Publicity/Empowerment (lawyer needed)



Contact Addresses
Michael H. Fox
Japan Insitute for the Study of Wrongful Arrests and Convictions
www.jiswac.org
Hyogo College
Kakogawa City 675-0195
JAPAN
www.kto.co.jp/japanfile/higashi.shtml

Tatsuhiro Boku
Hatanaka 303
Oita-shi
870-8588
Japan

Mark Kirk
DCC #291259
1181 Paddock Rd.
Smyrna, DE
19977-9679
USA