Lucie 'robbed' of justice

THE father of murdered British woman Lucie Blackman said his daughter had been robbed of justice today after a court cleared a Japanese businessman of involvement in her death.
Property developer Joji Obara, 54, was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of a series of rapes and the death of an Australian woman.
But the Tokyo District Court acquitted him of all charges relating to Miss Blackman, 21, from Sevenoaks, Kent, who disappeared in July 2000 while working as a bar hostess in Tokyo.

Click here to watch Lucie Blackman verdict

Speaking after the hearing, her father Tim Blackman blamed Obara’s acquittal on failures by prosecution lawyers, and demanded an appeal in the case.
“I’m afraid to say the lack of justice for us today has been the failure of the prosecution team to develop the case adequately,” Mr Blackman said.
“There is nothing that will change that Lucie is dead, but in many respects Lucie has been robbed of her justice.
“We believe our family deserves to get proper justice for Lucie, and that prosecutors should strongly consider an appeal.”
Earlier Lucie's mother Jane Steare said she was today "absolutely heartbroken" after the man accused over her death in Japan was cleared.
Obara was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted at Tokyo District Court of eight rapes and one count over the rape and death of Australian Carita Ridgway.
Mrs Steare could not cope with coming face to face with Obara and decided to stay at home in Kent.
She said: "I'm heartbroken, absolutely heartbroken. I just can't believe this verdict.
"My worst fears have come true."
Miss Blackman, from Sevenoaks, Kent, disappeared in July 2000 while working as a bar hostess in Tokyo.
The dismembered body of the former British Airways flight attendant was discovered in a cave seven months later.
Her father, Tim and 27-year-old sister, Sophie, were sitting a few feet behind Obara and remained composed as the verdict was translated by a British Embassy interpreter.
Mrs Steare said: "As for my darling Lucie, I miss you so much.
"This aching void in my heart feels like it will never go away, but I truly believe that one day we will hug each other again.
"I love you so much and always will. Your mummy will never give up hope of finding justice and the truth."
She also attacked her ex-husband for accepting £450,000 from Obara's friend.
She said: "Lucie's father must surely now have to explain why his signature appears on a document which questions key elements of the prosecution case, a case he himself has described as 'circumstantial'.
"He is also now in possession of money paid on behalf of a convicted killer and rapist."
Defendants in Japan who admit their guilt can pay compensation to their victims or their grieving families as part of the court process and as a way of expressing remorse.
Judges then take the payments into consideration when passing sentence.
Obara offered 500,000 Australian dollars (£200,000) to the grieving relatives of Ms Ridgway, who died after being drugged and raped by him in 1992.
This offer was rejected but Obara is believed to have paid around £10,000 to at least one of his rape victims.
Mrs Steare, who is the legally appointed executor of Miss Blackman's estate, refused two offers of 40 million yen (around £168,000) and 100 million yen (around £420,000) from Obara's defence team.
She said: "Giving up is not an option for me, as any mother will understand.
"Because I did not accept any condolence money, I understand that under Japanese law, I retain the right to pursue an appeal.
"As Lucie's mother and the sole legal representative of my daughter's estate, I will be consulting the authorities and my legal advisers to understand what options are available to me in my continuing search for justice.
"As a mother, I cannot begin to comprehend how money can compensate for the loss of a child.
"The safety of all our children depends not on a cold calculation of their worth, but on creating societies where justice and truth can prevail over material greed.
"I believe that we must all remember the importance of enduring moral values in our lives."
Miss Blackman went to work as a nightclub hostess in the Roppongi bar district of Tokyo.
She vanished in July 2000 and her decomposed remains were discovered in a cave in February 2001, after a seven-month search, just 100 yards from Obara's apartment in a four-storey block.
The prosecution alleged that Obara drugged and raped Miss Blackman before she died. It was then alleged that he chopped up her body into 10 pieces and encased her head in concrete at his luxury apartment.
Australian news website Perth Now reported that Judge Tsutomu Tochigi said: "There is nothing to prove that he was involved in the rape and her death. The court cannot prove he was single-handedly involved in her death.
"What is clear is that the victim acted together with the accused and then vanished and, following that, she was found dead."
The 1,600 days Obara has already served will be deducted from his sentence and he may be eligible for parole after 10 years.
Matt Searle, from the Lucie Blackman Trust, said: "This is not what we were expecting."
Meanwhile, it was reported that Ms Ridgway's family is calling for an independent inquiry into Tokyo Police's handling of the investigation into her death.
In a statement, the family said: "It is imperative that there should be an inquiry into the lack of action on the part of the Japanese police in 1992, and also in 2000, when Lucie Blackman went missing."
The statement, reported in The Times, added: "He has only been brought to trial for the rapes of 10 of those victims. There were scores of victims."

Source: The Sun