A man sentenced to life for the 1990 murder of a 4-year-old girl was freed June 4 from Chiba Prison after 17 years behind bars as prosecutors opted not to challenge a recent DNA test that did not link him with the victim.

Toshikazu Sugaya KYODO PHOTO

"I'll never forgive the real culprit, even if the statute of limitations expires," Toshikazu Sugaya, 62, told reporters in Chiba after his release. "From now on, I will work to support people who have also been (wrongfully) convicted."

Sugaya suggested that he wants to join efforts to call for the abolishment of the statute of limitations for serious crimes, including murder.

He appeared calm before the media but raised his voice as he spoke about his time in prison while the real culprit remained at large.

Following the rare move by the Tokyo High Public Prosecutor's Office, a retrial for Sugaya is expected to begin and is highly expected to overturn his conviction, legal experts said.

Sugaya has sought a retrial ever since being convicted of kidnapping Mami Matsuda from a pachinko parlor in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, and murdering her in May 1990.

A DNA test early on became the first to help lead to a conviction in Japan. The defense team, however, filed for a retrial with the district court in December 2002 with new evidence regarding DNA test analysis.

Sugaya's release follows a request by his counsel in May that prosecutors free him immediately. The team cited the results of a fresh DNA test conducted by the Tokyo High Court that showed a sample taken from him did not match dried body fluid found on the victim's clothing.