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25/04/2007
Lucie's mother's 'relief' at appeal decision
The mother of murdered British hostess Lucie Blackman has told reporters of her "relief" at the announcement that prosecutors are to appeal the acquittal of the man accused of her murder.
Jane Steare said that the British Embassy in Tokyo had confirmed that the city's public prosecutor would appeal the decision to clear Joji Obara of the rape and murder of the 21-year-old.
Mrs Steare told reporters that she fully supported the decision and said: "I believe there are grounds to be optimistic that an appeal will succeed."
Lucie's father, Tim Blackman, also called for an appeal on Tuesday, saying that he felt that Lucie had been "robbed of justice", adding that there was evidence which had not been presented at the trial.
Obara, a 54-year-old businessman, was cleared of Lucie's rape and murder at Tokyo District Court on Tuesday, but he was jailed for life for nine other rapes, including that of Australian Carita Ridgeway.
Ms Ridgeway died of liver failure in hospital in February 1992 after being drugged with chloroform by Obara.
Lucie, from Sevenoaks in Kent, disappeared in Tokyo, where she had been working as a bar hostess, in July 2000. Her dismembered body was found in a cave near Obara's home in the village of Miura the following February.
Obara was arrested in 2001 in connection with her death and had been on trial since 2003.
Prosecutors had alleged that Obara had drugged and raped Lucie before she died and then chopped up her body and encased her head in concrete.
On Tuesday, the court ruled that there was no direct evidence to link Obara to Lucie's death.
After the verdict was announced, Obara's lawyer, Yasuo Shionoya, said that an appeal would be lodged against the conviction in the Carita Ridgeway case.
(KMcA/JM)
Jane Steare said that the British Embassy in Tokyo had confirmed that the city's public prosecutor would appeal the decision to clear Joji Obara of the rape and murder of the 21-year-old.
Mrs Steare told reporters that she fully supported the decision and said: "I believe there are grounds to be optimistic that an appeal will succeed."
Lucie's father, Tim Blackman, also called for an appeal on Tuesday, saying that he felt that Lucie had been "robbed of justice", adding that there was evidence which had not been presented at the trial.
Obara, a 54-year-old businessman, was cleared of Lucie's rape and murder at Tokyo District Court on Tuesday, but he was jailed for life for nine other rapes, including that of Australian Carita Ridgeway.
Ms Ridgeway died of liver failure in hospital in February 1992 after being drugged with chloroform by Obara.
Lucie, from Sevenoaks in Kent, disappeared in Tokyo, where she had been working as a bar hostess, in July 2000. Her dismembered body was found in a cave near Obara's home in the village of Miura the following February.
Obara was arrested in 2001 in connection with her death and had been on trial since 2003.
Prosecutors had alleged that Obara had drugged and raped Lucie before she died and then chopped up her body and encased her head in concrete.
On Tuesday, the court ruled that there was no direct evidence to link Obara to Lucie's death.
After the verdict was announced, Obara's lawyer, Yasuo Shionoya, said that an appeal would be lodged against the conviction in the Carita Ridgeway case.
(KMcA/JM)
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24 April 2007
Man cleared of Lucie Blackman murder
The Japanese man accused of the rape and murder of British woman Lucie Blackman has been cleared of the charges. Businessman Joji Obara, 54, was cleared of raping and killing the 21-year-old, who was working in a bar hostess in Tokyo at the time of her disappearance.
Man cleared of Lucie Blackman murder
The Japanese man accused of the rape and murder of British woman Lucie Blackman has been cleared of the charges. Businessman Joji Obara, 54, was cleared of raping and killing the 21-year-old, who was working in a bar hostess in Tokyo at the time of her disappearance.
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Japanese Rapist Guilty Of Lucie Abduction
A Japanese serial rapist has been convicted of dismembering and abandoning the body of British nightclub hostess Lucie Blackman eight years ago. Joji Obara was acquitted of killing the 21-year-old from Sevenoaks, Kent last year, by Tokyo's High Court, but it ruled he did kidnap her in Tokyo in 2000.
Japanese Rapist Guilty Of Lucie Abduction
A Japanese serial rapist has been convicted of dismembering and abandoning the body of British nightclub hostess Lucie Blackman eight years ago. Joji Obara was acquitted of killing the 21-year-old from Sevenoaks, Kent last year, by Tokyo's High Court, but it ruled he did kidnap her in Tokyo in 2000.
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Toddler Dies In Pool Incident
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Family Of Murdered British Teacher Launch Fresh Appeal
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Family Of Murdered British Teacher Launch Fresh Appeal
The family of murdered British teacher Lindsay Ann Hawker are making a fresh appeal for information about her death. Miss Hawker, 22, from Brandon, near Coventry, had gone to Japan in October 2006 to teach English. However, her body was found in a bath filled with sand in a flat in Ichikawa, east of Tokyo, in March.
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