Shinichiro Hara
Real estate agent, 23
Japanese law states that circumstantial evidence isn't enough and that law is never going to change. I worry about what people in other countries think about Japan and I feel sorry about it.

Melanie Franz
Bank manager, 26 (German)
The court system should have more influence from public opinion and semiprofessionals, like a jury. An odd number of people -- maybe sub-judges -- should vote to make a decision.

Masaaki Matsubara
Construction worker, 24
It really shows how a Japanese case works. If the "right" proof isn't there, the judge can't get a conviction. The legal system doesn't care about human rights, all it wants to see is physical evidence.

Craig Davis
Banker, 37 (Australian)
I'm pretty sure he (killed Blackman) , but they had no forensic evidence so they couldn't prove it. Having no jury and only one judge seems bizarre. I wouldn't want to go to court here.

Tsugumi Eguchi
Student, 21
I wasn't satisfied with the outcome even though it took such a long time and despite it involving about 10 women. He should have got the death penalty because everyone believes he (killed Blackman).

Michael Duell
Student, 30 (German)
I think the outcome of the case was OK because the guy was sentenced to life imprisonment anyway and there wasn't enough evidence to prove he murdered (Blackman).