Lucie suspect held over Australian death

Lucie has been missing since July

A Japanese businessman suspected in the disappearance of British bar hostess Lucie Blackman faced a new charge on Friday relating to the death of an Australian woman, police said.

The suspect [allegedly] gave her drink laced with drugs, causing her to lose consciousness and die

Tokyo police spokeman

Wealthy property developer Joji Obara who is already on trial for the rape of five other women, was served with an arrest warrant for sexual violence resulting in the death of the Australian woman, who was in her 20s.

Mr Obara allegedly took the woman to his home, plied her with drinks laced with drugs until she lost consciousness, and then raped her, a spokesman for the Tokyo Metropolitan police said.

No more arrests. It is not a joke

Suspect Joji Obara

The woman died of a drugs overdose in a hospital a few days later.

Mr Obara, who has been detained since last October, has denied the charge, according to NHK television.

Not guilty plea

The fresh arrest comes a day after Mr Obara, 48, was indicted on a fifth rape count for allegedly drugging and raping a Japanese woman in her 20s early last year.

Lucie Blackman worked as a nightclub hostess in the Roppongi district of Tokyo

Mr Obara has not confessed to any of the crimes he is charged with.

Last month he pleaded not guilty to drugging and raping four women at his seaside condominium.

"No more arrests. It is not a joke," he was quoted by Jiji Press as saying.

The latest arrest is the first case in which he has been implicated in the victim's death.

Drinks with Lucie

None of the charges involve Ms Blackman, 22, although police are still investigating his connection in her case.

The trial has drawn strong interest from local women

Mr Obara had earlier denied any involvement in the much publicised disappearance of Ms Blackman, but admitted having drinks with her at the bar where she worked.

The former British Airways stewardess, from Sevenoaks in Kent, has not been seen since July last year.

She was working as a hostess in a Tokyo nightclub when she disappeared.

Mr Obara's lawyer has accused investigators of wrongly trying to link him with Ms Blackman's disappearance.

Last month, Japanese media reported that Tokyo police had found hair that may belong to Ms Blackman in Mr Obara's flat.