Australian woman accused of drug smuggling in Japan says she is innocent as trial begins

CHIBA, Japan (AP) — An Australian woman accused of smuggling amphetamines in a suitcase appeared in a Japanese court on Monday nearly two years after her arrest, saying she is innocent and that she was tricked into carrying them as part of an online romance scam.

Donna Nelson from Perth, Australia, was arrested at Japan’s Narita International Airport just outside Tokyo when customs officials found about 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of stimulants, or phenylaminopropane, hidden in a double-bottom suitcase she was carrying.

Nelson, 58, said she received the suitcase from an acquaintance of a man she met on social media and brought it from Laos to Tokyo as instructed. She was supposed to meet up with the man in Japan but he never showed up, according to prosecutors.

She was arrested on the spot and later charged with violating the stimulants control and customs laws. She has been in custody for nearly two years.

Monday’s trial comes just weeks after the recent acquittal of an 88-year-old former boxer, Iwao Hakamada, who was on death row for about half a century on wrongful murder convictions. That case rekindled concerns about Japan’s closed-door investigation processes and lengthy trials.

Nelson, in a brief statement at the Chiba District Court near Tokyo, said she did not know the drugs were hidden in the suitcase and that she was carrying them for a man she thought she loved.

Prosecutors acknowledged the case is linked to a romance scam but accused Nelson of smuggling the drugs, claiming she knew the contents of the suitcase.

Nelson entered the courtroom escorted by a pair of uniformed guards who removed her handcuffs and a rope around her waist as she took a seat to stand trial. She repeatedly looked toward her daughters who were seated in the audience.

It was an emotional moment for her and her family to see each other for the first time since her trip two years ago. Her daughters said they believe their mother is innocent.

One of Nelson’s daughters, Kristal Hilaire, said she wants the court to know her mother is a good person.

“She thought she was coming to Japan for her love story. She didn’t have any other intentions other than that. And that’s what we need everyone to know and hear at the court this week,” Hilaire said.

The daughter added that the family is “just trying to be strong because when mum locks her eyes with us, I want her to feel our strength and that she will feed off that.”

During Monday’s session, Nelson’s lawyer Rie Nishida said her client is the victim of a romance scam and that she “had her trust and love taken advantage of."

Nishida said that customs officials' limited English-language ability led to mistranslations and the accusation that Nelson knew what she was carrying.

AP video journalist Mayuko Ono contributed.

Japanese lawyer Rie Nishida, center, enters to the Chiba District Court on the opening day of the trial over Indigenous community leader Donna Nelson for allegedly attempting to import drugs into Japan Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Prosecutors head to the Chiba District Court on the opening day of the trial over Australian citizen Donna Nelson for allegedly attempting to import drugs into Japan Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Chiba, east of Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

The Chiba District Court is seen where the opening day of the trial over Australian citizen Donna Nelson for allegedly attempting to import drugs into Japan is taking place Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Chiba, near Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Prosecutors with the evidence head to the Chiba District Court on the opening day of the trial over Australian citizen Donna Nelson for allegedly attempting to import drugs into Japan Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Chiba, east of Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Family members of Australian citizen Donna Nelson speak to media before heading to the Chiba District Court on the opening day of the trial over Nelson for allegedly attempting to import drugs into Japan Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Chiba, east of Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Family members of Australian citizen Donna Nelson head to the Chiba District Court on the opening day of the trial over Nelson for allegedly attempting to import drugs into Japan Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Chiba, east of Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Steven Stamkos scored two power-play goals to help the Nashville Predators beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-3 on Sunday night.

Nashville improved to 5-10-3, winning for the first time in four games and for only the second time on the road at this season.

Zachary L’Heureux scored his first NHL goal and Roman Josi and Gustav Nyquist — into an empty net — also scored for Nashville. Juuse Saros made 24 saves.

Aatu Raty, Elias Pettersson and Kiefer Sherwood scored Vancouver, and former Predator Kevin Lankinen stopped 16 shots. The Canucks dropped to 9-5-3.

The Predators opened the scoring at 5:28 of the first period when L’Heureux collected a loose puck in front of the net and fired it past Lankinen.

Predators: The Predators lost all three regular-season games against Vancouver in 2023-24 before falling in six games in the first round of the playoffs.

Canucks: Surrendered the first goal for the 10th time in the last 11 games. They’re 3-4-3 on home ice and have yet to win back-to-back games at Rogers Arena.

After falling behind 2-1 in the second, the Predators re-took the lead with two goals in the span of 2:04. Stamkos scored his first in five games with Nils Hoglander serving a delay-of-game penalty. Josi then buried another 11 seconds after Saros thwarted Sherwood on a breakaway.

The Predators will wrap up a five-game trip in Seattle on Wednesday night. The Canucks finish off a six-game homestand against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (37) knocks the puck away during second period an NHL hockey match against Nashville Predators in Vancouver, on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Christopher Morris/The Canadian Press via AP)

Nashville Predators' Colton Sissons (10) gets past Vancouver Canucks' Tyler Myers (57) during second period an NHL hockey match in Vancouver, on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Christopher Morris/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Tyler Myers (57) pursues Nashville Predators' Filip Forsberg (9) during first period of an NHL hockey match in Vancouver, on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Christopher Morris/The Canadian Press via AP)

Nashville Predators' Ryan O'Reilly (90), Roman Josi (59), and Filip Forsberg (9) celebrate a goal during second period an NHL hockey match in Vancouver, on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Christopher Morris/The Canadian Press via AP)

Nashville Predators' Brady Skjei (76) congratulates Nashville Predators' Zachary L'Heureux (68) on his goal during first period NHL hockey against Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Christopher Morris/The Canadian Press via AP)

Nashville Predators' Juuso Parssinen (13) gets hit from behind by Vancouver Canucks' Carson Soucy (7) during second period of an NHL hockey match in Vancouver, on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Christopher Morris/The Canadian Press via AP)

Nashville Predators' Filip Forsberg (9) tries to jam the puck past Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) during first period of an NHL hockey match in Vancouver, on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Christopher Morris/The Canadian Press via AP)