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| Lucie family visits remains cave | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The father and sister of British hostess Lucie Blackman have visited the cave in Japan where her dismembered remains were found six years ago. | The father and sister of British hostess Lucie Blackman have visited the cave in Japan where her dismembered remains were found six years ago. |
| They are in the country awaiting the court verdict on businessman Joji Obara, 54, who denies abducting, raping and killing the 21-year-old. | They are in the country awaiting the court verdict on businessman Joji Obara, 54, who denies abducting, raping and killing the 21-year-old. |
| Miss Blackman's body was found in a remote fishing village near Tokyo, seven months after she vanished. | Miss Blackman's body was found in a remote fishing village near Tokyo, seven months after she vanished. |
| Her sister, Sophie, said she hoped "justice would be done for Lucie". | Her sister, Sophie, said she hoped "justice would be done for Lucie". |
| Mr Obara's trial began on 27 November, 2003, but his first appearance in court goes back to July 2001. | Mr Obara's trial began on 27 November, 2003, but his first appearance in court goes back to July 2001. |
| Hopefully, the courts will give a harsh sentence Sophie Blackman | Hopefully, the courts will give a harsh sentence Sophie Blackman |
| Speaking during the visit to the cave, Tim Blackman, 53, said the long process had been "emotionally damaging". | Speaking during the visit to the cave, Tim Blackman, 53, said the long process had been "emotionally damaging". |
| He added: "The length of the process and so many years of waiting and wondering has been tough on the Blackman family." | He added: "The length of the process and so many years of waiting and wondering has been tough on the Blackman family." |
| Sophie Blackman added: "We're all very anxious about what the outcome will be. | Sophie Blackman added: "We're all very anxious about what the outcome will be. |
| "Hopefully, the courts will give a harsh sentence." | "Hopefully, the courts will give a harsh sentence." |
| The Blackmans are attending the last day of the trial. | The Blackmans are attending the last day of the trial. |
| Tim Blackman has repeatedly travelled to Japan | Tim Blackman has repeatedly travelled to Japan |
| The judges' decision at Tokyo District Court is expected on Monday or Tuesday. | The judges' decision at Tokyo District Court is expected on Monday or Tuesday. |
| Mr Blackman, from the Isle of Wight, has repeatedly travelled to Japan in an effort to bring his daughter's killer to justice. | Mr Blackman, from the Isle of Wight, has repeatedly travelled to Japan in an effort to bring his daughter's killer to justice. |
| Before leaving for Japan he said he did not know what to expect. | Before leaving for Japan he said he did not know what to expect. |
| "It's a complicated situation and a complicated trial. I'm apprehensive about it because there is an awful lot of circumstantial evidence and he has denied all of the allegations," he said. | "It's a complicated situation and a complicated trial. I'm apprehensive about it because there is an awful lot of circumstantial evidence and he has denied all of the allegations," he said. |
| Miss Blackman's mother, Jane Steare, 52, has decided not to attend the hearing. | |
| Mr Blackman and daughter Sophie, 26, visited the cave in Miura, a remote and secluded fishing village outside Tokyo, late on Sunday. | Mr Blackman and daughter Sophie, 26, visited the cave in Miura, a remote and secluded fishing village outside Tokyo, late on Sunday. |
| 'Innocent journey' | 'Innocent journey' |
| Miss Blackman, a former flight attendant from Sevenoaks in Kent, was working as a hostess in a nightclub in the Roppongi bar district of Tokyo when she vanished in July 2000. | Miss Blackman, a former flight attendant from Sevenoaks in Kent, was working as a hostess in a nightclub in the Roppongi bar district of Tokyo when she vanished in July 2000. |
| The prosecution says Mr Obara raped Miss Blackman. | The prosecution says Mr Obara raped Miss Blackman. |
| Following her death, it is alleged he chopped up her body and encased her head in concrete at his luxury apartment. | Following her death, it is alleged he chopped up her body and encased her head in concrete at his luxury apartment. |
| In February 2001, decomposed remains were discovered in a cave close to Mr Obara's four-storey home in Miura. | In February 2001, decomposed remains were discovered in a cave close to Mr Obara's four-storey home in Miura. |
| Mr Obara was questioned about Miss Blackman's death while already in custody suspected of raping eight other women and killing another hostess. | Mr Obara was questioned about Miss Blackman's death while already in custody suspected of raping eight other women and killing another hostess. |
| Speaking on Monday, Mr Blackman said: "I think Lucie's journey was very innocent and she perhaps came from a point where she didn't get the right, or much advice, before coming and knew Japan was a very safe place and her defences were down. | Speaking on Monday, Mr Blackman said: "I think Lucie's journey was very innocent and she perhaps came from a point where she didn't get the right, or much advice, before coming and knew Japan was a very safe place and her defences were down. |
| "I think probably Lucie's experience will have educated a lot of people." | "I think probably Lucie's experience will have educated a lot of people." |