Americans James Blackston, Unnamed Teen, Arrested in Connection with Death of Nicola Furlong After Nicki Minaj Tokyo Concert
TOP STORY: Two black Americans, one identified as dancer James Blackstone (James “King Tight” Blackstone or James Blackston), and another unnamed teen, (reported as Richard Hinds) have been arrested in connection with the death of an Irish exchange student, Nicola Furlong, in Tokyo, Japan. Both men were reportedly arrested for “fondling” a friend of the victim in the back of a taxi cab, according to earlier media reports. It is not clear if the men were connected to rapper Nicki Minaj, whose concert Nicola Furlong had attended. The U.S. State Department confirmed that two Americans were arrested and a police investigation is underway. Nicola Furlong reportedly died from cervical compression, known as strangulation. She was found unconscious in the hotel room of the 19 year old musician, identified as Larry Perry by some media outlets. Furlong, who attended Takasaki City University of Economics in Gunma Prefecture, died Thursday after spending a night in the Keio Plaza Hotel following the Nicki Minaj concert.
King Tight’s Twitter @kingtightbucc20 is no longer working nor can you view his profile on MySpace. Blackston has reportedly served as background dancer for Omarion and Marques Houston in Osaka. He supposedly appeared in music videos for the Black Eyed Peas, Chris Brown, and J. Lo. Here is a picture of James Blackston, AKA King Tight:
Dancer James Blackston, AKA King Tight, Being Held in Japan for Murder of Nicola Furlong (MySpace)
One of the two suspects, a 19-year-old who identified himself as a musician, was in the room with the woman when hotel staff went up to probe a complaint about loud noise. The two men were charged with indecent assault on the student’s 21-year-old female friend, who was in a separate room with the other man, but police suspect they were involved in the student’s death, investigative sources said.
She arrived with her friend in Tokyo on Wednesday afternoon, and after catching a concert at a club in Koto Ward the two men approached them and invited them to a meal, the sources said. After deciding to take a cab to the hotel, where both men were staying, the two allegedly raped the Irish woman’s drunk friend inside the taxi, they said. Upon arriving at the hotel, the musician paired off with the Irish woman and the other two went to a different room. Source
Not to blame the victim, but going off to the room of a perfect stranger isn’t smart, no matter which country you are in. We have seen the tragic results such actions can have. Remember American teen Natalee Holloway, who mysteriously disappeared in Aruba after hooking up with Joran Van Der Sloot? If the allegations against the 19 year old, in whose room Nicola Furlong was found unconscious, are true, then he doesn’t need to see the outside of a prison cell again. If both men raped Nicola Furlong’s friend, then the appropriate punishment should be meted out to them. Like Joran Van Der Sloot, they represent the worst of humanity.
UPDATE#1 (05/29/12): Richard Hinds, who is being held along with his pal James Blackston for sexually assaulting Sarah Maher, could face death penalty for Nicola Furlong’s murder. Read more: http://hinterlandgazette.com/2012/05/larry-perry-held-sexual-assault-sarah-maher-face-death-penalty-nicola-furlong-murder.html
UPDATE#2 (06/15/12): The unnamed teen, who has been identified as Richard Hinds, has been arrested for the death of Nicola Furlong. James Blackston has been arrested for groping her friend, Sarah Maher.
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