Mother "sickened" by Lucie condolence money
Lucie was working at a hostess bar in Tokyo's Roppongi entertainment district
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Saturday, 30, Sep 2006 07:42
The mother of a 21-year-old British woman murdered in Tokyo has expressed her outrage at her ex-husband accepting almost £450,000 worth of "condolence money" on behalf of the man accused killing her daughter.
Jane Steare told the Reuters news agency that she had played no part in Tim Blackman's negotiations with a friend of Japanese businessman Joji Obara, who denies raping and murdering Lucie Blackman in 2000.
The Kyodo news agency revealed earlier today that Mr Blackman had received the sum of 100 million yen (£450,000).
But Mrs Steare, who remarried in 1995, said: "I have rejected all and any payments from the accused, as have my daughter, Sophie, and my son, Rupert.
"He [Mr Blackman] is conducting these negotiations against my wishes and the pleas of his children. Lucie's loyal family and friends are sickened by Tim Blackman's utter betrayal."
Lucie was found raped and murdered in 2000 while she was working at a hostess bar in Tokyo.
Mr Obara, 53, is accused of taking her to his condominium, drugging her and raping her on July 1st, 2000. Her body was found in a seaside cave near the apartment several months later after an intensive manhunt sparked by her family back in the UK.
He claims he took Ms Blackman back to his condominium on the day but has denied charges of drugging and rape.
The businessman is also facing a number of other charges of a sexual nature, including nine charges of rape against both Japanese and non-Japanese women, and a case which resulted in the death of an Australian woman.