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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Appeal over Lucie trial verdict | Appeal over Lucie trial verdict |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The first hearing in an appeal by prosecutors in Japan against the acquittal of the man accused of killing a British bar hostess has taken place. | The first hearing in an appeal by prosecutors in Japan against the acquittal of the man accused of killing a British bar hostess has taken place. |
| Joji Obara was cleared last April of any involvement in the death of Lucie Blackman, 21, from Sevenoaks, in Kent. | Joji Obara was cleared last April of any involvement in the death of Lucie Blackman, 21, from Sevenoaks, in Kent. |
| None of her family were in court, but her mother, Jane Steare, said she would "never abandon the pursuit of justice". | None of her family were in court, but her mother, Jane Steare, said she would "never abandon the pursuit of justice". |
| Obara was jailed for life for raping nine women, one of whom died, and he is also now appealing those verdicts. | Obara was jailed for life for raping nine women, one of whom died, and he is also now appealing those verdicts. |
| Miss Blackman was found dead near Tokyo in 2001. | Miss Blackman was found dead near Tokyo in 2001. |
| During his trial, lawyers had claimed Obara had drugged and raped Miss Blackman before she died, and then chopped up her body and encased her head in concrete. | During his trial, lawyers had claimed Obara had drugged and raped Miss Blackman before she died, and then chopped up her body and encased her head in concrete. |
| 'No fresh evidence' | 'No fresh evidence' |
| But the judge said there was no proof the millionaire property developer alone was responsible for her death. | But the judge said there was no proof the millionaire property developer alone was responsible for her death. |
| The appeal hearing on Tuesday was adjourned until May after just 30 minutes. | The appeal hearing on Tuesday was adjourned until May after just 30 minutes. |
| Miss Blackman's father Tim, who lives on the Isle of Wight, has said he fears the legal process will last for at least six months and that he feels there is nothing further to be gained through the appeal. | |
| He said the prosecution team had not told him of any fresh evidence to be presented during the appeal. | He said the prosecution team had not told him of any fresh evidence to be presented during the appeal. |
| But Mrs Steare said that view did not represent the views of Lucie's "true" family and friends. | |
| "We will never abandon the pursuit of justice in her name," she said. | "We will never abandon the pursuit of justice in her name," she said. |