Murdered Lucie's mother to take body home
The mother of murdered British hostess Lucie Blackman has arrived in Japan to bring home the body of her daughter.
An emotional Jane Blackman was met by British officials after arriving in the Japanese capital Tokyo.
Mrs Blackman, 47, from Sevenoaks, Kent, was not accompanied by Lucie's father, her ex-husband Tim.
She said: "I have to sign documents to enable the body of my beloved daughter Lucie to be taken home and arrange for her funeral to be conducted with the dignity she deserves. I have arrived in Japan today to do a job I prayed I would never have to do.
"There are no words to describe my grief. If you had a child, you would know exactly how I felt," she said.
Mr Blackman is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on Monday. He came to Japan last year to conduct his own search for Lucie, making personal appeals to Tony Blair and other British politicians for help.
Mrs Blackman will also meet Japanese detectives gathering evidence in the murder case.
Lucie's dismembered body was found in a cave less than 200 metres from a luxury apartment owned by the chief suspect, Joji Obara.
The former British Airways stewardess disappeared while working as an hostess in a Tokyo bar. Her body is expected to be flown home next weekend.
Police have yet to charge anybody in relation to Lucie's disappearance and death.
