Case 107
Lucie Blackman & Carita Ridgway
Case 107
Lucie Blackman & Carita Ridgway
In early 2000, 21-year-old Lucie Blackman and her long-time best friend Louise Phillips devised a plan to spend a few months living and working in Japan. The pair had lived seemingly parallel lives, with both working in an investment bank before commencing work as flight attendants for UK airline British Airways.
Lucie’s previous 9-to-5 corporate job in London had left her bored and her expensive spending habits had led her into debt. She craved a life of adventure where she could travel internationally and experience different cultures, but couldn’t afford to travel in style and the concept of backpacking held no appeal.
The initial appeal of her jet-setting career quickly faded. Lucie soon found the job tiring and monotonous, as her days became a blur of in-flight meals and generic hotel rooms. Her health began to decline as she was constantly jet-lagged and she had fallen further into debt by spending more money than she was earning.
Her best friend Louise Phillips was equally disenfranchised, and both girls craved a new adventure. Louise’s older sister Emma had previously been on a working holiday to Japan where she was employed as a hostess. Although Lucie wasn’t clear exactly what Emma’s Japanese job had entailed, she knew it involved bars, waitressing, and the potential to earn a lot of money. She became convinced hostessing presented a great opportunity to pay off her debts while seeing more of the world and decided to leave her job at British Airways to pursue the idea…
________
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
MTC program: maketheconnection.net/resources/spread-the-word
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call/
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Episode researched and written by Catherine Seccombe
Episode edited by Elsha McGill
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
BOOKS:
People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman – Richard Lloyd Parry
ARTICLES:
Lucie Blackman timeline – Metro
Lucie Blackman murder case: Timeline – The Telegraph
Tokyo Vice extract: Behind the Lucie Blackman story – The Telegraph
101 things to do in Roppongi – TimeOut
Tokyo Roppongi｜Roppongi Station Area Map & Sightseeing Information – Live Japan
Roppongi: from ashes to ‘High Touch Town’ – The Japan News
Lucie Blackman, the dark world of Tokyo nightclub hostessing, and the man who made her an offer she couldn’t refuse – Daily Mail
A rapist’s lair and a head entombed in concrete… concluding our gripping series on Lucie Blackman – Daily Mail
Sevenoaks girl who hoped to spin blonde to gold – The Guardian
Why I took ‘100 million pieces of silver’ for my daughter’s death – The Guardian
A Father’s Betrayal – Daily Mail
Blackman sister attacks mother, calls her venomous – The Japan Times
Tim Blackman: For the first time since Lucie was killed I feel emotionally stable again – Daily Mail
A look back at the murder of a British bar hostess in Tokyo – Crimefeed
Exclusive: A mother’s worst nightmare – Daily Mail
He is ‘immoral and appalling’: Lucie Blackman’s mother slams her ex-husband – Daily Mail
The tragic tale of a Tokyo hostess – ABS News
Glitter Girls: Young Canadian women are lured by gifts and glitz to play hostess in Japan’s night world – Pacific Rim
Following in Lucie’s footsteps – Wales Online
Ex-Met officer joins hunt for Lucie – The Telegraph
Grim secret of man in Armani who chatted up Lucie Blackman – The Guardian
A tale of rape, murder and a Japanese playboy – The Age
The ‘beast with a human face’ – BBC News
Police report Obara-Blackman link – The Japan Times
Family blame police as daughter’s killer jailed for 15 years – The Age
Joji Obara – Murderopedia
Lucie Blackman, Joji Obara and me – The Times
Remains May Belong to Bar Girl – The Washington Post
Trial by jury returns to Japan – The Guardian
People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman by Richard Lloyd Parry – The Times
Lay judges in Japan – Wikipedia
‘Glorious’ Lucie laid to rest – BBC News
Lucie’s family put aside the pain to say farewell – The Telegraph
A verdict that caused widespread consternation – The Guardian
Rapist cleared of killing Lucie Blackman – The Telegraph
Japanese businessman acquitted over Lucie Blackman murder – The Guardian
Joji Obara convicted of abducting and mutilating Lucie Blackman – The Telegraph
Lucie’s mother weeps as serial killer is found guilty of kidnap – Evening Standard
Lucie’s mother heartbroken by verdict – Birmingham Post
‘Evil conman’ took £15,000 off Lucie Blackman’s family – The Telegraph
OTHER:
THIS EPISODE’S SPONSORS
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In early 2000, 21-year-old Lucie Blackman and her long-time best friend Louise Phillips devised a plan to spend a few months living and working in Japan. The pair had lived seemingly parallel lives, with both working in an investment bank before commencing work as flight attendants for UK airline British Airways.
Lucie’s previous 9-to-5 corporate job in London had left her bored and her expensive spending habits had led her into debt. She craved a life of adventure where she could travel internationally and experience different cultures, but couldn’t afford to travel in style and the concept of backpacking held no appeal.
The initial appeal of her jet-setting career quickly faded. Lucie soon found the job tiring and monotonous, as her days became a blur of in-flight meals and generic hotel rooms. Her health began to decline as she was constantly jet-lagged and she had fallen further into debt by spending more money than she was earning.
Her best friend Louise Phillips was equally disenfranchised, and both girls craved a new adventure. Louise’s older sister Emma had previously been on a working holiday to Japan where she was employed as a hostess. Although Lucie wasn’t clear exactly what Emma’s Japanese job had entailed, she knew it involved bars, waitressing, and the potential to earn a lot of money. She became convinced hostessing presented a great opportunity to pay off her debts while seeing more of the world and decided to leave her job at British Airways to pursue the idea…
______
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Episode researched and written by Catherine Seccombe
Episode edited by Elsha McGill
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
BOOKS:
People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman – Richard Lloyd Parry
ARTICLES:
Lucie Blackman timeline – Metro
Lucie Blackman murder case: Timeline – The Telegraph
Tokyo Vice extract: Behind the Lucie Blackman story – The Telegraph
101 things to do in Roppongi – TimeOut
Tokyo Roppongi｜Roppongi Station Area Map & Sightseeing Information – Live Japan
Roppongi: from ashes to ‘High Touch Town’ – The Japan News
Lucie Blackman, the dark world of Tokyo nightclub hostessing, and the man who made her an offer she couldn’t refuse – Daily Mail
A rapist’s lair and a head entombed in concrete… concluding our gripping series on Lucie Blackman – Daily Mail
Sevenoaks girl who hoped to spin blonde to gold – The Guardian
Why I took ‘100 million pieces of silver’ for my daughter’s death – The Guardian
A Father’s Betrayal – Daily Mail
Blackman sister attacks mother, calls her venomous – The Japan Times
Tim Blackman: For the first time since Lucie was killed I feel emotionally stable again – Daily Mail
A look back at the murder of a British bar hostess in Tokyo – Crimefeed
Exclusive: A mother’s worst nightmare – Daily Mail
He is ‘immoral and appalling’: Lucie Blackman’s mother slams her ex-husband – Daily Mail
The tragic tale of a Tokyo hostess – ABS News
Glitter Girls: Young Canadian women are lured by gifts and glitz to play hostess in Japan’s night world – Pacific Rim
Following in Lucie’s footsteps – Wales Online
Ex-Met officer joins
A tale of rape, murder and a Japanese playboy – The Age
The ‘beast with a human face’ – BBC News
Police report Obara-Blackman link – The Japan Times
Family blame police as daughter’s killer jailed for 15 years – The Age
Joji Obara – Murderopedia
Lucie Blackman, Joji Obara and me – The Times
Remains May Belong to Bar Girl – The Washington Post
Trial by jury returns to Japan – The Guardian
People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman by Richard Lloyd Parry – The Times
Lay judges in Japan – Wikipedia
‘Glorious’ Lucie laid to rest – BBC News
Lucie’s family put aside the pain to say farewell – The Telegraph
A verdict that caused widespread consternation – The Guardian
Rapist cleared of killing Lucie Blackman – The Telegraph
Japanese businessman acquitted over Lucie Blackman murder – The Guardian
Joji Obara convicted of abducting and mutilating Lucie Blackman – The Telegraph
Lucie’s mother weeps as
Lucie’s mother heartbroken by verdict – Birmingham Post
‘Evil conman’ took £15,000 off Lucie Blackman’s family – The Telegraph
OTHER:
THIS EPISODE’S SPONSORS
Robinhood – Get a free stock from companies like Apple, Ford and Sprint when you sign up
Article – Get $50 off your first order of $100 or more
SimpliSafe – Protect your home and your family today
Calm – Get 25% off Calm Premium subscription
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