Donna Nelson Guilty: six years in jail

By PETER ROWE

A court in Tokyo has found Perth grandmother Donna Nelson guilty of importing two kilograms of methamphetamine into the country and sentenced her to six years in prison.

Ms Nelson, 58, who had maintained her innocence throughout the trial, had claimed she was the victim of a love scammer who had convinced her to take a suitcase to Japan for him from Laos in January 2023.

The verdict was decided by three judges and six civilian ‘lay” judges. Japan does not have a jury process like Australia.

Ms Nelson, who has already spent almost two years behind bars, will see that time deducted from her sentence. She was also fined one million Yen ($10,000).

Her lawyer in Japan Nishida Rie said they would fight on if the decision went against Ms Nelson.

“That means until she gets freedom,” she said.

*More to come