Joji Obara's appeals trial started Tuesday before the Tokyo High Court with his defense team arguing that the life sentence he received for serial rape and for causing the death of one of his victims is too harsh.
Prosecutors, who are also appealing, meanwhile want this time around to ensure Obara is convicted of murdering British bar hostess Lucie Blackman, whose dismembered corpse was found buried in a seaside cave steps away from one of the condos owned by the defendant, who was also her client.
The Tokyo District Court sentenced Obara to life in prison last April 24 for drugging and raping nine women and causing the death of Australian hostess Carita Ridgway, one of his victims, in 1992. But in what was considered a surprise move, the court acquitted him in the slaying of Blackman, who disappeared during an outing with him in July 2000. Obara immediately appealed.