The British Airways air hostess had been dismembered by millionaire Joji Obara, who police now believe raped hundreds of women.
Who is Tim Blackman?
Tim Blackman is the father of Lucie Blackman, whose death is explored in a new documentary.
He flew out to Japan a week after Lucie vanished to search for his daughter.
He worked to keep her name and disappearance in the news, mounting pressure on the Japanese authorities to find her.
Tim held press conferences and plastered Lucie’s picture all over Tokyo, where she had been living and working when she went missing.
New Netflix documentary Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case shines a light on Lucie’s disappearance and features Tim speaking about the ordeal.
In the true-crime show, Tim reveals how he fought to bring the evil Obara to justice.
The Blackman family pushed for an appeal in 2008 after, in 2007, Obara was found not guilty of any crimes related to Lucie and her death.
Obara was charged with drugging, raping and killing Blackman but was acquitted in 2007 due to lack of evidence.
He was ultimately jailed in December 2008 for abducting Lucie, and dismembering and disposing of her body.
Obara has also been found guilty of nine other rape charges and the manslaughter of Australian model Carita Ridgway.
Police believe he may have raped between 150 and 400 women in Japan, due to videotape recordings of his crimes and his diaries.
Who is Jane Steare?
Jane Steare is the mother of Lucie Blackman and ex-wife of Tim Blackman.
She spoke out against her former husband in 2007 after he accepted a payment of more than £450,000 of condolence money from associates of Obara.
Tim revealed plans to put the money into a trust in Lucie’s name but Jane told the MailOnline that she was never consulted about setting up the trust.
She also spoke out against Tim’s decision to sign a document confirming his acceptance of the money, around 100 million yen, “representing the family of Lucie”.
Jane is now married to Roger Steare, who she wed in 2003.
Who are Lucie Blackman’s siblings Sophie and Rupert?
Sophie is Lucie’s younger sister and Rupert is her brother.
In 2006, Sophie’s father Tim revealed that Sophie had attempted suicide as she struggled to deal with her grief over Lucie’s death.
He said his youngest daughter had been “left severely traumatised and was receiving in-patient care at a psychiatric unit,” according to The Guardian.
Tim added that his son Rupert had also been left “tortured and damaged” by the death of his sister.
“I not only have to contend with the death of Lucie, but the terrible and tragic damage to both my other children as a constant reminder of this terrible crime,” he said.
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
Who is Lucie Blackman’s friend Louise Phillips?
Louise Phillips was a childhood friend of Lucie’s.
The pair moved to Japan together for a year of travelling.
They worked together at the same club in Tokyo and shared an apartment.
Louise was questioned as part of the search of for Lucie after she vanished.
Phillips said at the time: “It has been the worst time of my life.
“The police are not treating me as a suspect, but I seem to be all they have to go on.”
As the search for Lucie continued, Louise received a phone call received a telephone call from a man.
The man, who identified himself as Akira Takagi, told Louise that Lucie had joined a cult and would never be seen again.
It is thought that the call was a hoax.