A man and woman serving life in prison for starting a fire that killed the woman's 11-year-old daughter were freed Monday when the Osaka High Court ordered their release following a decision to reopen the arson-murder case.
At around 2 p.m., Keiko Aoki, 51, walked out of a prison in Wakayama Prefecture while Tatsuhiro Boku, 49, was released from a prison in Oita Prefecture.
They had been behind bars for two decades. Prosecutors had sought to prevent their release.