Family of Lucie Blackman in bitter row as appeal launched after man is cleared of raping and killing her

Millionaire property developer Joji Obara, 55, was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of raping nine women, including Australian Carita Ridgway who died.

But the Tokyo District Court last April cleared him of raping and killing Miss Blackman, from Sevenoaks, Kent, who disappeared in July 2000 while working as a bar hostess in Roppongi, Tokyo.

None of the Blackman family were in court today as the appeal was launched but it sparked a bitter war of words between her divorced parents Jane Steare and Tim Blackman.

In a statement, Mrs Steare said: "I fully support the prosecutors' appeal against the acquittal of Joji Obara for the killing of my daughter Lucie.

"Whilst I was not present in court today, I have been working closely with the prosecution team and I do expect to attend the appeal hearing when necessary."

Conversely, Mr Blackman has not been in contact with prosecutors and does not plan to attend the hearing.

Mr Blackman said: "I personally do not feel there is anything further to be gained through the appeal as, after so long, I want to see Sophie and Rupert (Lucie's siblings) able to get on with their lives."

But Mrs Steare said: "I want to make it perfectly clear that the statement issued recently by Lucie's father saying that he needs to 'get on with his life' does not represent the views of Lucie's true family and friends.

"We will never abandon the pursuit of justice in her name."

Miss Blackman's dismembered body was discovered in a cave just 100 yards from Obara's apartment after a seven-month search.

The prosecution alleged the businessman drugged and raped the 21-year-old before she died, and then chopped up her body and encased her head in concrete.

But Judge Tsutomu Tochigi ruled there was no firm evidence Obara was involved in the former British Airways flight attendant's death.

Mr Blackman said the prosecution team had not told him of any fresh evidence to be presented during the appeal, which will sit once a month for at least six months.

"I have not had any communication from the prosecutors that they are presenting anything different," he said. "It is out of our hands."

Mr Blackman said he did not believe appeals had a great success rate in Japan.

He added: "My concern is that if we hang everything on 'justice for Lucie' has to be a successful appeal, otherwise we have got nothing, and we spend another year banging that drum and we come out with the same decision that we have at the moment, it has really not done anybody any good whatsoever.

"It's just more trauma for the children, more trauma for me.

"Lucie has been dead for eight years. This thing called justice is for whom?

"If Jane wants justice then Jane has justice but I'm concerned about leading the children on 'fighting for justice'."

He added: "I'm not convinced it's the best thing for us to pin high hopes on an appeal."

It is not the first time Mrs Steare has attacked her ex-husband over his handling of the case.

She accused him of undermining the prosecution against Obara by accepting £450,000 "blood money" and by signing a document allegedly questioning the case against him.

However, Mr Blackman has said he has no regrets about taking the payment, which is common practice in Japan. Obara is also appealing against his guilty verdicts on the nine counts of rape.