Tim Blackman emerged from the 24th session of the trial of a Japanese businessman feeling "a kind of pity" for the man accused of causing the death of his daughter, Lucie, nearly 3 1/2 years ago.
Thursday's session at the Tokyo District Court, was the first that Blackman had attended and was the first time he had seen Joji Obara, 50, in person.
"I'd have recognized him in the street, of course, because his face has become so familiar to us," said Blackman, from the Isle of Wight, England. He was accompanied by his wife, Jo, and Lucie's sister Sophie. "When he was brought into the court, he knew we were there and he avoided looking at us the whole time.