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| US man jailed for killing Irish student in Tokyo hotel | US man jailed for killing Irish student in Tokyo hotel |
| (17 days later) | |
| A 19-year-old American musician was sentenced to more than five years in prison on Tuesday for murdering an Irish exchange student after he drank with her until she passed out and then used a wheelchair to take her, unconscious, to the hotel room where she died. | A 19-year-old American musician was sentenced to more than five years in prison on Tuesday for murdering an Irish exchange student after he drank with her until she passed out and then used a wheelchair to take her, unconscious, to the hotel room where she died. |
| Richard Hinds, of Memphis, Tennessee, was found guilty of strangling Nicola Furlong in a "vicious" attack. He was ordered to serve more than five but less than 10 years in a Japanese prison. | Richard Hinds, of Memphis, Tennessee, was found guilty of strangling Nicola Furlong in a "vicious" attack. He was ordered to serve more than five but less than 10 years in a Japanese prison. |
| Hinds and another American were accused of taking Furlong, 21, and one of her friends to the hotel after both women had passed out in a bar. The Tokyo district court ruled that Hinds strangled Furlong when she regained consciousness to keep her quiet. | Hinds and another American were accused of taking Furlong, 21, and one of her friends to the hotel after both women had passed out in a bar. The Tokyo district court ruled that Hinds strangled Furlong when she regained consciousness to keep her quiet. |
| James Blackston,23, was sentenced to three years prison last week for sexually assaulting Furlong's friend. | James Blackston,23, was sentenced to three years prison last week for sexually assaulting Furlong's friend. |
| During the two-week trial, prosecutors said Hinds and Blackston met Furlong and her friend after a concert last May. The four went to bar, where both of the women passed out, allegedly because their drinks were drugged. | During the two-week trial, prosecutors said Hinds and Blackston met Furlong and her friend after a concert last May. The four went to bar, where both of the women passed out, allegedly because their drinks were drugged. |
| Security camera footage showed Blackston molesting Furlong's friend in the taxi on the way. Hinds watched and egged on Blackston from the front seat. | Security camera footage showed Blackston molesting Furlong's friend in the taxi on the way. Hinds watched and egged on Blackston from the front seat. |
| Using wheelchairs borrowed from hotel staff, the men then took the unconscious women to separate rooms where Furlong died. The court ruled that when Furlong regained consciousness, Hinds strangled her with a towel or a piece of clothing, allegedly to keep her quiet. | Using wheelchairs borrowed from hotel staff, the men then took the unconscious women to separate rooms where Furlong died. The court ruled that when Furlong regained consciousness, Hinds strangled her with a towel or a piece of clothing, allegedly to keep her quiet. |
| Hinds denied intent to kill, though he acknowledged "lightly" pressing on her neck. | Hinds denied intent to kill, though he acknowledged "lightly" pressing on her neck. |
| "The manner in which he committed this crime was atrocious and vicious in nature," the presiding judge, Masaharu Ashizawa, said. | "The manner in which he committed this crime was atrocious and vicious in nature," the presiding judge, Masaharu Ashizawa, said. |
| Hinds was a minor under Japanese law when Furlong died, but was tried in an adult court. Although Japan has the death penalty, the maximum sentence for a murder committed by a minor is 10 years. | Hinds was a minor under Japanese law when Furlong died, but was tried in an adult court. Although Japan has the death penalty, the maximum sentence for a murder committed by a minor is 10 years. |
| Blackston, from Los Angeles, was sentenced to three years in prison for the sexual assault of Furlong's friend. | Blackston, from Los Angeles, was sentenced to three years in prison for the sexual assault of Furlong's friend. |
| Furlong's mother, Angela, said Hinds' sentence was too lenient. | Furlong's mother, Angela, said Hinds' sentence was too lenient. |
| "Her life is worth more than that," she said after the verdict was read. "But at least her name was cleared. She didn't do anything wrong." | "Her life is worth more than that," she said after the verdict was read. "But at least her name was cleared. She didn't do anything wrong." |
| Furlong, a Dublin City University student, was in Japan as an exchange student at a university near Tokyo. | Furlong, a Dublin City University student, was in Japan as an exchange student at a university near Tokyo. |
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