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Man cleared over killing of Lucie Man cleared over killing of Lucie
(30 minutes later)
A Japanese businessman has been cleared of raping and killing British bar hostess Lucie Blackman.A Japanese businessman has been cleared of raping and killing British bar hostess Lucie Blackman.
But Joji Obara, 54, was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping nine other women, including one - Australian Carita Ridgway - who died.But Joji Obara, 54, was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping nine other women, including one - Australian Carita Ridgway - who died.
Miss Blackman, 21, from Sevenoaks, Kent, was working in a Tokyo bar when she vanished in July 2000. Her dismembered body was found in 2001.Miss Blackman, 21, from Sevenoaks, Kent, was working in a Tokyo bar when she vanished in July 2000. Her dismembered body was found in 2001.
The judge said there was no proof Obara alone was responsible for her death.The judge said there was no proof Obara alone was responsible for her death.
The remains of the former air hostess were found in a cave near Obara's home in the village of Miura in February 2001.
TIMELINE 1 July 2000: Lucie Blackman vanishes in Tokyo21 July 2000: Tony Blair meets Lucie's parents and promises to raise their daughter's disappearance with Japan's PM11 Oct 2000: Japanese police arrest and question Joji Obara, who is in custody in connection with several other rapes9 Feb 2001: Police find Miss Blackman's body parts in a cave at Miura, near Tokyo.27 Nov 2003: Obara goes on trial in Tokyo24 April 2006: Obara acquitted in relation to Miss Blackman's death Lucie Blackman timeline
Miss Blackman's father, Tim Blackman, and her sister Sophie, were in court to hear the verdict. They immediately left to consult with their lawyers and have not yet commented on Obara's acquittal.Miss Blackman's father, Tim Blackman, and her sister Sophie, were in court to hear the verdict. They immediately left to consult with their lawyers and have not yet commented on Obara's acquittal.
The body of the former air hostess was found in a cave near Obara's home in the village of Miura in February 2001. The BBC's Tokyo correspondent, Chris Hogg, said that under Japanese law the Blackman family themselves have no grounds to appeal against the court's decision.
Father's battle They could try to mount a form of civil action but as Obara has been declared bankrupt there would seem to be little point.
Obara was arrested on charges of rape resulting in the death of Ms Blackman in 2001 and had been on trial at Tokyo District Court since 2003. Lack of emotion
TIMELINE 1 July 2000: Lucie Blackman vanishes in Tokyo21 July 2000: Tony Blair meets Lucie's parents and promises to raise their daughter's disappearance with Japan's PM11 Oct 2000: Japanese police arrest and question Joji Obara, who is in custody in connection with several other rapes9 Feb 2001: Police find Miss Blackman's body parts in a cave at Miura, near Tokyo.27 Nov 2003: Obara goes on trial in Tokyo24 April 2006: Obara acquitted in relation to Miss Blackman's death Our correspondent said Obara showed little emotion as the judge told him he would be sentenced to life in prison.
Mr Blackman, from the Isle of Wight, spent thousands of pounds travelling to Japan to try to get the local police to investigate his daughter's disappearance as a suspected crime.
Eventually, after he enlisted the support of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Japanese counterpart, the police arrested Obara, a property developer who had a seaside home at Miura, outside Tokyo.
Last year Mr Blackman accepted 100 million yen (£450,000) from a friend of Obara, but he denied it was "blood money" and said such "offers of condolence" were common in Japan and did not affect the court case.
Obara admitted he had been with Miss Blackman on the day she disappeared but claimed she became unwell at his apartment after taking drugs.Obara admitted he had been with Miss Blackman on the day she disappeared but claimed she became unwell at his apartment after taking drugs.
He said he then called an acquaintance, known by the nickname Kacchan, and asked him to take her back to Tokyo. Kacchan has since died which meant his story could not be challenged.He said he then called an acquaintance, known by the nickname Kacchan, and asked him to take her back to Tokyo. Kacchan has since died which meant his story could not be challenged.
Judge Tsutomu Tochigi said: "There is nothing to prove that [Obara] was involved in the rape and her death. The court cannot prove he was single-handedly involved in her death.Judge Tsutomu Tochigi said: "There is nothing to prove that [Obara] was involved in the rape and her death. The court cannot prove he was single-handedly involved in her death.
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. Judge Tsutomu Tochigi The judge said it was clear the victim and the accused were together before she vanished and then died but he said this was not enough to secure a conviction.
"What is clear is that the victim acted together with the accused and then vanished and, following that, she was found dead." 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. Judge Tsutomu Tochigi class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6242747.stm">Profile of Joji Obara
Obara's lawyer, Yasuo Shionoya, said his client would lodge an appeal against his conviction in the Carita Ridgway case.Obara's lawyer, Yasuo Shionoya, said his client would lodge an appeal against his conviction in the Carita Ridgway case.
"Regarding Carita's case, I think we will have to file an appeal. It's very plausible that we would file an appeal in the other cases as well," said Mr Shionoya."Regarding Carita's case, I think we will have to file an appeal. It's very plausible that we would file an appeal in the other cases as well," said Mr Shionoya.
The judge said Ms Ridgway, who died of hepatitis at a Tokyo hospital in February 1992, had been drugged with chloroform by Obara.The judge said Ms Ridgway, who died of hepatitis at a Tokyo hospital in February 1992, had been drugged with chloroform by Obara.
But Mr Shionoya said: "I doubt whether liver failure could have been triggered by the use of chloroform."But Mr Shionoya said: "I doubt whether liver failure could have been triggered by the use of chloroform."
Father's battle
Obara was arrested on charges of rape resulting in the death of Ms Blackman in 2001 and had been on trial at Tokyo District Court since 2003.
The verdict will be a devastating blow for Tim Blackman and his daughter Sophie
Mr Blackman, from the Isle of Wight, spent thousands of pounds travelling to Japan to try to get the local police to investigate his daughter's disappearance as a suspected crime.
Eventually, after he enlisted the support of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Japanese counterpart, the police arrested Obara, a property developer who had a seaside home at Miura, outside Tokyo.
Last year Mr Blackman accepted 100 million yen (£450,000) from a friend of Obara, but he denied it was "blood money" and said such "offers of condolence" were common in Japan and did not affect the court case.