Prosecutors have launched a bid to overturn the "not guilty" verdict of a Japanese man accused of killing a British bar hostess.
An appeal was launched after Joji Obara was cleared of any involvement in the murder of Lucie Blackman in April.
However he was jailed for life for raping nine women, one of whom later died.
Obara is also seeking acquittal on those counts. The first hearing last just 30 minutes and was adjourned until May 30.
Ms Blackman, from Kent, was found dead near Tokyo in 2001.
During the trial, prosecutors claimed that Obara had drugged and raped Ms Blackman, then cut her body up into pieces and encased her head in concrete.
Neither of Ms Blackman's parents were at the appeal hearing in Japan.
Tim Blackman said he felt the appeal hearing could last for up to six months.
In a statement, he said: "It would seem that this process could drag out for some time, and frankly after the last seven years, Sophie [Miss Blackman's sister] and I both need to carry on with our lives."
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