Netflix is set to release a new true crime documentary named ‘Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case,’ which delves into the tragic and unsolved mystery of Lucie Blackman. The series, scheduled to premiere on July 26th, reexamines the harrowing events surrounding the disappearance and murder of the 21-year-old British woman. Lucie was employed as a hostess at Tokyo’s Casablancas nightclub when she met with her untimely fate, leaving her loved ones and the world grappling for answers.

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In 2000, Lucie Blackman and her friend arrived in Japan on a 90-day tourist visa, which strictly prohibited them from working in the country. However, faced with mounting debts, Lucie decided to take a job at a club called Casablanca despite the visa restrictions.

As part of their employment at the club, Lucie Blackman and her friend assumed the role of hostesses, a job that involved not only serving drinks but also occasionally going on paid dates with customers, a practice known as ‘dōhan’ in Japan. On July 1, 2000, Lucie embarked on one such paid date with a customer. However, she did not return home and a missing case was filed.

In October 2000, the police made a significant breakthrough in their investigations when they finally arrested a man named Joji Obara. This arrest came after several years of sexual assault allegations that had been leveled against him. The arrest of Joji Obara marked a crucial turning point in the search for justice and closure in the cases of the victims, including Lucie Blackman.

In February 2001, the body of Lucie Blackman was discovered. During the investigation, it was alleged that Obara, a businessman, took Blackman to his beachfront condominium, which was located only 250 meters away from where her body was later discovered. According to the allegations, Obara raped Blackman after providing her with drinks that were spiked with sleeping pills.

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Obara faced trial for the rape and drug-related death of Blackman, but he was ultimately acquitted of these specific charges in 2007 due to a lack of direct evidence. However, he was found guilty on other counts of rape, and as a result, he received a life sentence for the rape of nine other women.

In 2008, at the age of 56, Obara faced sentencing by the Tokyo High Court, which resulted in a life imprisonment verdict for his offenses against Lucie Blackman.