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Man convicted of abducting Lucie | Man convicted of abducting Lucie |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Tokyo businessman has been convicted of abducting the British bar hostess Lucie Blackman. | A Tokyo businessman has been convicted of abducting the British bar hostess Lucie Blackman. |
Last year, Joji Obara was acquitted of killing the 21-year-old of Sevenoaks, Kent, but the Tokyo High Court now says he did kidnap her in Tokyo in 2000. | Last year, Joji Obara was acquitted of killing the 21-year-old of Sevenoaks, Kent, but the Tokyo High Court now says he did kidnap her in Tokyo in 2000. |
Her dismembered body was found seven months later concealed in a cave. | Her dismembered body was found seven months later concealed in a cave. |
The 56-year-old businessman's sentence will remain unchanged as he was given a life sentence last year for raping nine other women, one of whom died. | The 56-year-old businessman's sentence will remain unchanged as he was given a life sentence last year for raping nine other women, one of whom died. |
Last year, a Japanese court cleared Obara of raping and killing Ms Blackman, a former air hostess. | Last year, a Japanese court cleared Obara of raping and killing Ms Blackman, a former air hostess. |
A judge said there was no proof Obara alone was responsible for her death. | A judge said there was no proof Obara alone was responsible for her death. |
At the time, Lucie's mother, Jane Steare, said she was heartbroken and in disbelief at the the verdict. | At the time, Lucie's mother, Jane Steare, said she was heartbroken and in disbelief at the the verdict. |
On Tuesday, the High Court dismissed that ruling and said that although there was not sufficient evidence to convict Obara of murder, he had mutilated Ms Blackman's body. | |
"The court recognises that the defendant is responsible for damaging and abandoning the body," Judge Hiroshi Kadono said. | "The court recognises that the defendant is responsible for damaging and abandoning the body," Judge Hiroshi Kadono said. |