Police recieved forged Lucie Blackman letters

Japanese police received forged letters after Lucie Blackman's disappearance claiming to be from the murdered Briton.

The first letter, which arrived at Azabu Police Station on July 20, denied reports that she had been kidnapped.

It also said that her father, Tim, and younger sister, who had visited Japan to look for her, should go home and not worry about her.

Officers say her father told them the signatures on the letters were not Lucie's and believe they were intended to mislead police.

Another letter was sent to the police station in early October containing 1 million yen (£5,800) in cash, following reports that the 21-year-old had debts of that amount when she came to Japan.

Joji Obara, a 48-year-old businessman, is already charged with drugging and raping a number of women and is expected to be initially charged with abandoning a corpse in relation to Lucie Blackman