November 17th 2024.
A grandmother from Australia has been detained in Japan for almost two years now and she's finally getting her day in court. Donna Nelson, the 58-year-old woman from Western Australia, claims that she has been the victim of an online romance scam. Her daughters, who haven't been able to see their mother in almost two years, will finally be able to support her in the Japanese courtroom tomorrow as her long-awaited drug smuggling trial begins.
One of her daughters, Shontaye Kickett, expressed her excitement to see her mother, although she's unsure of what state she will be in after being detained for so long. "I don't know how I'm going to feel seeing her for the first time," she said. It's been a difficult time for the family, especially since Donna was the victim of an unprovoked attack that left her with serious head injuries while in custody.
It all started in January 2023 when Donna, on the trip of a lifetime, was about to meet her love interest. She had met this man online through a dating site called AfroIntroductions and was looking forward to finally meeting him in person. "She was excited to be meeting this person that she loves and cares about," her daughter Kristal Hilaire explained. However, things took a turn for the worse when she was taken into custody by customs officers in Tokyo after they found almost two kilograms of meth hidden in her suitcase.
Donna claims that she had no knowledge of the drugs and that she was set up by Nigerian scammers. "This wasn't anything that was on our radar," Hilaire stated. "If I had heard about something like this happening to my mom, I would have asked a lot more questions." Her lawyers have been working tirelessly for the past 22 months to prepare her case after the trial was delayed in July. They believe that the truth will finally come out in court.
It's been a tough journey for the family, especially with the constant delays and uncertainty. They were able to briefly see Donna through glass with her lawyers, but it's not the same as being able to hug her and be with her in person. Her granddaughter, who has also been longing to see her, will finally be joining the family in Japan this week. "It's just really hard at the moment," Hilaire admitted.
Donna's daughters describe her as an honest person who loved her kids and her Aboriginal culture. They firmly believe that she would never do anything like this. They are hoping and praying that she will get a fair trial and be able to come home in time for Christmas. "I just hope and wish for my mom to get a fair trial and I believe if she does, she'll be coming home," Hilaire said.
In the meantime, the family is staying updated on all the latest news through the 9News app. They are grateful for the support and well wishes from the community and are hopeful for a positive outcome in court. It's been a long and difficult journey, but they are staying strong and united in their fight to bring Donna back home.
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