British victim's mother fury at "blood money"

LONDON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - The mother of a British woman murdered in Japan launched a furious attack on her ex-husband today accusing him of jeopardising the trial of a Japanese businessman accused of killing their daughter.

Japanese property developer Joji Obara, 54, is on trial in Tokyo charged with drugging, raping and killing 21-year-old Lucie Blackman, a former British Airways Flight attendant.

Blackman, who was working at a hostess bar in Tokyo's Roppongi entertainment district, vanished in Japan on July 1, 2000, after saying she was going for a drive with a man.

After a massive police manhunt, her remains were found in a beachside cave, 45 km southwest of Tokyo seven months later. Her severed head and other body parts were encased in concrete.

The case against Obara took a twist on Saturday when Tim Blackman, the victim's father, said he had accepted a payment of 847,700 dollars from a family friend of Obara, as a so-called condolence payment allowable under Japanese law.

A spokesman at the Tokyo District Court said prosecutors today had demanded a life sentence for Obara.

The businessman, who denies all charges, faces separate accusations of raping five other women as well as sexual violence resulting in death for allegedly drugging and raping an Australian woman in 1992.

HORRIFIC IMPLICATIONS Lucie's mother Jane Steare said her ex-husband's acceptance of ''blood money'' could have ''horrific potential implications'' for the case, which has attracted huge media interest as crimes involving Western women are almost unheard of in Japan.

In a statement issued to Reuters, she said he had been repeatedly warned by prosecutors and British police that accepting a cash payment was likely to be taken into account by the trial judges when deciding guilt and any sentence.

''Each of the other victims and their families must now face the prospect that Tim Blackman's actions could deny or compromise justice for us all,'' Steare said.

Blackman, who made several trips to Japan after Lucie's disappearance to keep up pressure on the police, said he had taken the money to help with ''the future of my family'' and a charity set up in his daughter's name.

''I feel nothing for the accused and, no matter what the outcome of the trial, it won't bring my daughter back,'' he said in a statement.

But Steare said officials from the British Embassy had informed her that Obara's defence team had tried to submit evidence of Blackman's acceptance of the payment as well as other statements she said could damage the prosecution case.

''The judge has not yet allowed these statements to be submitted, but we must prepare ourselves for the horrific potential implications of Tim Blackman's deal with Obara's defence team,'' she said.

Steare separated from Blackman in 1995 and has since remarried.

REUTERS LL VC1640