Asia-Pacific

Serial rapist cleared over Briton's death

(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-04-25 07:11

A Japanese businessman was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for serial rape and killing an Australian woman, but was cleared of killing British bar hostess Lucie Blackman in one of Japan's worst sex crime cases.

Briton Lucie Blackman is shown in this undated photo released by the British Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. [AP]

Blackman's disappearance and death seven years ago attracted huge attention due to her family's campaign to find her, and because of the gravity of the charges.

One-time property developer Joji Obara, 54, had been charged with 10 cases of rape, including drugging, raping and killing Blackman, a 21-year-old former British Airways flight attendant who was working as a hostess in Tokyo's sleazy Roppongi entertainment district when she disappeared in July 2000.

A gasp rang out from the public gallery of the Tokyo district court as the judge announced the not guilty verdict for her killing.

"The court cannot prove that he single-handedly was involved in her death," Presiding Judge Tsutomu Tochigi told the Tokyo District Court.

"What is clear is that the victim was together with the accused and then vanished and next was found dead."

Blackman's mother, Jane Steare, said she was "absolutely heartbroken" after hearing the verdict. "My worst fears have come true," she said in a statement.

"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," she added.

"Your mommy will never give up hope of finding justice and the truth."

Obara was found guilty of raping eight women, and of raping, drugging and causing the death of Carita Ridgway, a 21-year-old Australian hostess who died in hospital in 1992, the court said.

Ridgway's family said they were relieved that Obara was convicted for her death, but said they were disappointed that Japanese police had not launched an investigation earlier.

"If Obara had been investigated in 1992, it would have stopped the crimes he committed for the next eight years," Ridgway's mother, Annette Foster told a news conference.

Obara, wearing a dark grey suit and glasses and sporting a beard, repeatedly wiped his sweaty face with a small blue towel before the verdict was handed down, then sat and nodded occasionally as the judge read out the sentence.

Video tapes of rape

Prosecutors had sought the life sentence, the heaviest possible punishment for rape resulting in death in Japan.

Obara has denied all the charges, and his lawyer, Yasuo Shionoya, told reporters that he was innocent and would appeal.

In handing down the ruling, the judge referred to evidence submitted by prosecutors including a diary kept by Obara, video tapes showing him raping women and writing in which he boasted, "My goal is to have sex with 500 women by the time I am 30".