Tokyo High Court rejects expert love scam evidence in Perth grandmother’s drug trafficking case

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Tokyo High Court has rejected expert evidence defence lawyers hoped would overturn drug trafficking charges against a Perth grandmother. Donna Nelson has argued she's the innocent victim of a love scam, after two kilograms of methamphetamine were found in her luggage at Tokyo’s Narita airport in 2023.

Transcript

00:00Back in Japan with a fresh fight for justice.

00:06She feels really positive and really hopeful.

00:09It's been a taxing two and a half years for the family of Donna Nelson

00:13sentenced to six years jail for smuggling two kilograms of methamphetamine.

00:18Not knowing makes me feel a bit nervous and anxious,

00:23but at the same time it can't be any harder than what we've already faced.

00:29Donna Nelson was sentenced last year after the drugs were found at Narita Airport

00:34in the lining of her suitcase.

00:36She picked up the bag in Laos en route to Japan,

00:39believing her online boyfriend of two years needed it for his fashion business.

00:44The initial court did not rule she knew the drugs were there,

00:48but rather determined Nelson ignored too many red flags about the whole situation.

00:53On appeal, defence lawyers hoped expert evidence from romance scam expert

00:58Professor Monica Witte would change that.

01:01Donna Nelson was a blind mule, the evidence stated.

01:04The criminals used sophisticated techniques to manipulate her,

01:08ensuring she was unaware of their plans to exploit her in this way.

01:12She was lonely and at a vulnerable moment in her life.

01:16But in a blow, the Tokyo High Court struck down the submission.

01:20I feel extremely disheartened about that.

01:23It's very difficult, but I still believe we have much better understanding

01:28about how she was scammed, so I strongly hope the judge will understand too.

01:33The Tokyo High Court will either uphold the appeal or dismiss it.

01:37It could also send the case back to trial.

01:40The family of Donna Nelson is preparing for all outcomes,

01:44including the possibility of a prisoner transfer to Australia,

01:48should the appeal fail.

01:50The fight doesn't end. We have to get her home.

01:53There's no other way around it.

01:55A decision will be made September 25.

01:57A decision will be made September 25.

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