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Subscribe to RSSTwo Americans have been arrested in connection the death of a female Irish exchange student in Japan, police in Tokyo were reported as saying on Sunday.
Nicola Furlong, 21, from County Wexford, Ireland, was found unconscious in a hotel room early on Thursday, hours after attending a concert by the rapper Nicki Minaj, the Irish Times said.
She was later confirmed dead at a hospital, where an autopsy indicated she may have been strangled.
The Irish Times said Furlong is believed to have gone to Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, a business and shopping hub in central Tokyo, after midnight with her female friend after the two met the American pair.
The Daily Yomiuri in Japan said police arrested two American men - a musician, 19, and a dancer, 23 - on suspicion of sexually assaulting Furlong's friend and fellow student, 21, in a taxi on the way to the hotel.
It said police suspect the men know how Furlong subsequently died.
The Japan Times said the 19-year-old suspect was alone in a room with Furlong when hotel staff went up to probe a complaint about loud noise.
None of the reports could be confirmed by msnbc.com.
Furling was attending Takasaki City University of Economics in Gunma Prefecture.
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Well if these two did it and are found guilty.. "Sayonara" capital punishment in Japan is legal.
With good reason. Other developed nations hew to the concept of personal responsibility, honor, integrity and character much more than the United States. Could be why the U.S. is the only industrialized nation with so many violent men and more than 2 million in prison. And why American men can't seem to stay out of trouble wherever around the globe they go. The U.S. experiment with cap punishment has never worked out because of investigatory biases and lack of DNA testing in capital crimes, not because it doesn't work to keep the crap of society from victimizing the sane and law abiding folk. Criminal behavior also reflects badly on the criminal's family, which is a big deal in every other country than the U.S. Make restitution to the victim/victim's family the responsibility of the criminal's parents/family part of a prison sentence and watch some crimes drop. Be nice if they also had to reimburse taxpayers for the law enforcement and housing tab taxpayers currently pick up.
Remains to be released to the pubic whether these two scum are with the Nicki Minaj tour/entourage. A lot of young U.K. and European women don't realize how profoundly different American black males are from those in their countries.
Damn secret service.
Rappers and trouble go hand n hand. trouble is part of the life style for rappers. And to think they once called Rock'n' Rollers evil
Did I miss something?
I didn't see anything suggesting rap was a cause (and no, I don't like rap, nor do I like NM)...I have no idea why the writer decided to put Nicki Minaj's name in the headline.
Where in this article does it say that the men are black?
I have no special love for the granfalloon of Americans. I love being American and expect rights and reasonable respect in foriegn countries. But If I break the law, especially murder or rape, then the consequenses are clear. I hope Japan makes all effort to gather proper evidence for a fair an just conviction. If found guilty, then he is subject to their justice system. Simple. I am sad there is a victim.
The Good 'ol U.S reppahsenting....
Maybe it's because the United States has a tendency of glorifying violence as macho and cool and to a certain extent even acceptable?
Or maybe you're trying to oversimplify a complicated issue.
Oh, I don't think it's that complicated. Manifest Destiny, Monroe Doctrine, "Galvanized Yankees," slave ownership, genocide of the indigenous peoples, etc. We have a bloody past, present, and looks as if the future is set in stone to be more of the same.
We're in the toilet and no one wants to curb their anger. Other people aren't punching bags or for target practice. Prior to correcting other countries on their behavior, we should look within our own borders and in our own hearts.
Yes, Young black males. Source: Japanprobe.com. Black males in the U.S. make up only about 6% or 7% of the population, yet are responsible for about 54% of the violent crimes committed. Subtract the seinors, the kids, and the good guys, and about 2% or 3% of the population are committing over 50% of the (reported) violent crimes in America. Google it. The statistics don't lie. Racial profiling? HA! Do the math. Fortunately, it's mostly committed against other black males(94%).
Let's not jump to conclusions people. There are many choices. There are:
Suicide
Accidental Suicide
Drug Overdose
Intentional Murder
Accidental Murder
The loud noise that was heard coming from the room, which could not be verified in the report, was probably her frantically trying to get away, struggling with the 19 year old musician (maybe getting a blunt force head trauma wound from him), just as she began to realize she was being choked to death by him. The question is though, why aren't more women being trained in close quarters combat? This really could have helped here. Instead of her dying, he would have been in serious pain.
There's nothing sexier than a woman who can whip a ss!
itt hungrymongoose did not read the article.
It's rather difficult to strangle yourself, so that rules out suicide. Drug overdoses don't generally lead to indications of strangulation. Autoeroticasphyxiation is a possibility, but unlikely when taken in with the sexual assault allegations in a taxi cab.
OOPS..they though they were in Aruba
Two black Americans, one identified as dancer James Blackstone (James “King Tight” Blackstone or James Blackston), and another unnamed teen, (reported as Larry Perry) have been arrested in connection with the death of an Irish exchange student, Nicola Furlong, in Tokyo, Japan.
Nicola Furlong reportedly died from asphyxiation.
Mere hours after arriving in a strange city in a strange country, the two girls get drunk out of their minds (or did the suspects drug them?).
The two girls accept an invitation to a very late-night dinner after the concert from two black strangers, 21 and 19, from the rap/hip-hop world.
The girls get into a taxi, to go to the men’s hotel. If you don’t want to have sex with a strange man, you do not agree, late at night, to go to his hotel with him.
In the taxicab on the way to the hotel, the men both allegedly rape the girl who lived to tell.
The girls both exit the cab at the hotel, but instead of screaming “Help! Police!,” each goes to a room with one of the men. A man rapes you, and so you then go to a hotel room with him to have more sex with him? A man rapes your girlfriend, and so you go to a hotel room to have sex with him?
At 3:20 a.m., after getting a complaint from a guest about ear-splitting “music” playing in another room, a hotel employee (security?) enters the room where the dead Nicola Furlong lies on the floor, the 21-year-old black man standing over her.
Both men have been arrested for rape, and both are suspected of murdering Nicola Furlong.
I must have missed the part that identified the two Americans as black males .....
Two Americans ... no names ... now that's really descriptive. Whitewash everything, lamestream.
Unlike here, the Japanese do not release normally the names of people being questioned, they only release the names after charges have been filed. This is a good thing as it prevents damage to people's reputation simply because they were questioned by police. I think that we should do the same thing here as too many people have had their lives destroyed simply because they were questioned by the police related to a crime even though they were never charged with anything. Too many people in this country equate being questioned by police with being somehow involved, even if they are never charged. It is often assumed that the only reason they were not charged is that the police could not get enough evidence, not because the person was not guilty of anything. It is bad enough that people who are actually charged with a crime are often convicted in the media and court of public opinion before there is any trial, it should not happen to people who are never even charged with a crime. A person should not have their name dragged through the mud simply because the police questioned them in relation to a crime.
I an not making any judgement regarding the guilt or innocence of the two individuals the Japanese police are questioning, there is simply not enough information to make any judgements. I am just saying that I respect the fact that their names are not being released at this point since they have not yet been charged with anything.
Typical Reich-wing comment.
It's kind of the same in Britain.
There, once someone is arrested for a crime, the media is BANNED from reporting anything about the case until a judgement is reached.
Well, JS, that is practiced here also.
It is?
When I was sitting at the police station waiting to inquire about something, I saw the local news paper rep getting all the names and info that the police had from the day before.
No, it's not. How many times have you seen a crime reported, and someone is named a "person of interest"?
6dogs
"Well, JS, that is practiced here also".
What country are you from, 6dogs, that doesn't ruin peoples lives in the media? Yes, JD, I wish the USA had as much class as Japan in regards to the media. The media has no business in our courtrooms. We know how things are reported. Often not even close to what happened. It is their perception, and often not the truth.
The nineteen year olds name not out yet..but the 23 year old guy is..James"Kingtight" Blackston.. a backup dancer on the rap concert..and yes he is an black-american.
Both weren't arrested for that death (yet)...they were arrested for touching the other girl after getting her drunk..it was all recorded on the surveillance tape in the taxi they rode to the hotel in.
This was beiing reported by the Japanese media..forgot to say where I got this info from.
There is no denying the bros what they want, it's clear they girls provoked these attacks.
It is not surprising that no names were given in this article, do you not notice the poor quality of writing in general by MSN writers. I don't think anyone bothers to proof read or edit most material written on this site, worst journalism looking like it is written by freshman high schoolers at best!!
Michelle Trew Quinn, if you don't like the "quality" of the articles -- how about YOU take a job as proof-reader/writer at MSN? Oh, wait, if you do that, you wouldn't be able to rationalize your complaints about the "lack of quality"...........
By the way, did you bother to proof-read your own comment before posting it? I notice a definite lack of quality in it.
Rene, must vehemently disagree with you. The media, as well as the general public, MUST be allowed in the courtroom (except maybe in some very limited circumstances, ie young children testifying about sexual assault) in some form or fashion to observe the process. In order to maintain intergrity and trust in the judicial system, it must be open to scrutiny so as to be accountable to the people. The problem is that reporters either try to be the first with the story and are completely inaccurate in their reporting or they simply are incompetent.
This is the norm all over north-east Asia (well.. except for North Korea, where they don't really have any norms). I believe it may be the case in much of Europe as well. Suspects' names are withheld until after arraignment.. sometimes all the way until trial.
Of course this doesn't stop bloggers (and netizens, as they are called in China), from ferreting out and releasing the names.. which usually happens in China and South Korea. he.
And before she accepts that important job, Michelle must work on her punctuation and syntax a bit!
Hey U.S. government, don't get involved. It's their justice system, their country. Don't turn it into an international incident.
Americans behaving badly need to take that whatever the country does for punishment. You don't see an article on Japanese men strangleing Americans here at a rap concert. Let them have it Japan if found guilty...........
yep
And if they are INNOCENT- they deserve a fair trial and treatment. Probably will NOT be judged by their peers over there. The US Govt should look over Japan's shoulder to ensure they are treated fairly.
You would probably want that..
So, is the girl's name Furlong, or Furling? Typical MSNBC writing.
A young lady is dead and all you worry about is spelling , you must be a complete tool
He was inquiring about her name, not the spelling of some random word.
why do people spend so much time and energizing "Typical MSNBC writing.". I bet it would suck to live with you. always focused on what is wrong with the messenger instead of the message.
You would probably nag the devil all the way to hell over the "uneven" temperature down there...
Blacks??
Does your mommy know you're using the computer?
Probably 2 white guys. Not a lot of African Americans travel outside the US, especially Japan.
tom, looks as if the two men were in town with the Nicki Minaj tour.
I'm sure it was blacks....they are a disgrace on society.
I wonder why everyone blames Blacks first without any facts. As said before, few Blacks travel to the Near or Far East. Racist comments have absolutely no business on this thread, nor on any thread on the Vine.
So true. Only black people commit crimes. Only black people murder others. A white person would never strangle anyone, or drag them behind a car, or shoot them, or rob them, or hang them, or burn them. White people are all so honorable; pillars of virtue and purity!
Give me a break! You read this and the only thing you come away with is the question, "black?" If this is the way you see people, I feel very sorry for you and for the pitiful life you have.
well if the shoe fits.....
crime stats folks, say it all
.
What is all this racist carp on MSNBC these days?
After living near Chicago for almost 50 years and the sexual and violent nature of the crime I kind of figured it was probably young black males responsible. I know the US president is suppose to help everyone in the country (all races) but I think he should do something special to help his people. Create programs to re-build the black family maybe. I don't think anyone in the country would complain if he did. Everyone has been waiting for decades for something to be done. It's going to take generations to fix this problem but if the president did something that would be great.
This is from an article on the web:
Even Jesse Jackson said a few years ago, “There is nothing more painful to me … than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery, then look around and see somebody white and feel relieved.”
Young black males commit crime way out of proportion to their numbers. Taking that into account when you’re out in the street is not irrational, it’s street-smart. It’s not profiling, it’s probability.
Crime Stats say NOTHING.
ESPECIALLY in America.
Black males are 40% MORE likely to be arrested for the SAME crime then their counterparts.
Black Males are 60% MORE likely to get a prison sentence for the SAME crime then their counter parts.
Black males consistently have the lowest educational scores in the nation. 95% of educators in the USA are White Females.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ............
NO OBAMA 2012
ROMNEY 2012
What? This article has nothing to do with Obama or Romney.
RogerRoger
I can see your an idiot ...trying sticking to the article...secondly try watching many expert analysts pertaining to this election instead of watching cartoons..sometimes the candidate you dont want is your better choice. Unless your a rich republican and u dont want to pay your fair share. Educate yourself them comment
He probably just *mistrolled* and mentioned this story over on the political pages.
Cram your fair share BS commie,
R0ger Comment collapsed by the community
NO OBAMA 2012
ROMNEY 2012
I am confused as to why this was collapsed by the community??
Changed my mind about posting...deleted.
that comment is about as relevent as Mitt Romney wearing magic Mormon underwear
Tom,
CaliforniaFirst: "What is all this racist carp on MSNBC these days?"
RogerRoger: "NO OBAMA 2012
ROMNEY 2012"
Roger's is about as an honest an answer as you could possibly get to that question. It seems some Americans don't like the fact that the POTUS is African-American and seizing every opportunity to hate on blacks. Being black the POTUS himself may have been deemed a failure even before his job had begun.
Has any thing good ever resulted from a rap concert?
Sex is ramped their..
What?
I think bluepanther needs to learn to spell English words.
Since when is the correct spellig of What? unclear to anyone with a modicum of basic English. Pull out a dictionary and read the word. While you're at it, get a life.
Since when is the correct spellig, jackieboy....be careful before you cast a stone.
I do spell correctly...AND I know how to use spell check...as for your comment on the word "what"....WTF?
What business do teenie-boppers have in Japan? They need to be kept here at home! We are under the eyes of the world! We are supposed to be leaders not corruptors! When is our government going to take steps to stop all this nonsense? A teenie-bopper has NO BUSINESS BEING IN JAPAN! ANOTHER "BLACK MARK" FOR THE UNITED STATES!
They were both adults. Are you really advocating restricing international travel by those who have legally reached the age of majority?
LOL..."teenie bopper"?
She was a 21 year old Irish exchange student. Probably was on a break from her classes to get out and have a good time, for a change.
I thought TR meant the Americans being held. Regardless, all involved were adults, and therefore entitled to travel wherever they want and can afford.
... and prepared to face the consequences of their actions.
I don't recall anyone saying otherwise. But at what age is international travel ok? If 18-year-olds can travel overseas to fight wars, they should be able to travel for sightseeing or study. And if they break another country's laws, absolutely they should be held liable. As should adults of any age.
Although I agree the suspects are probably not black I would not be surprised if they were black. So any statement that implies the race of the suspects with certainty is just wrong. But regardless why would race matter? A young woman is dead and maybe one of these guys did it. Justice should never depend on race. My condolences to the family of the young woman who lost her life. I hope you find justice.
Sincerely, Joe.
The dancer they named James Blackston was black. The other man they didn't name.
japanprobe.com shows him.
I will never understand why young girls take off with guys they don't know, in a city they don't know. Sad story, may she rest in peace.
I'll bet they thought they could trust Americans.
In the article it said they were so drunk the 2 men toted them to the cab. Blackston was charged with fondling them in the cab.
I think they were more then drunk. Wanna be they were druged as well?
Many American men see and use women like toilet paper.
not all of us are @!$%#'s some of us have a good moral view on life and would never hurt someone like that now if you mess my wife or my little girls there is nowhere in this world that person would be safe no one could help that person out cause then im a force of nature and wrath
TP??? Really??? What analogy would you use for how women are treated by men in other countries??? Could you please list countries where women are NOT treated like tp??? I'm betting "not treated like tp" list is much much shorter than the list where women are treated abominably. How about a comparison list of "How American men treat their women" vs oh, say maybe "How Saudi Arabian men treat their women"??? Choose what ever countries that you like and what makes them so much better. I'm quite interested in seeing this.
I see dumb young people. Never trust a person from the USA..
Wow. What a close-minded, ignorant, hateful moron. I guess you don't get out much, Mr. International.
paragus, how much time have you spent in the U.S.? How many of us do you actually (personally) know? I don't think there are any more jerks here than there are in any other part of the world. You bash Americans just for being American. I don't hear you bashing Middle Easterners for Shariah Law...
As far as this article goes, if either of them is guilty of the murder, throw the book at him (or at both of them, if both are involved!!!) There is no excuse for such behavior! I have faith in Japan's justice system, and I am sorry for the young woman's family.
Wait.. who in the hell said these guys were black? If so, so
what if they are! I love it how blacks commit crimes simply because they’re
black....while whites commit crimes because they're....misguided or lonely, or
daddy didn’t play catch with them….etc .
I lived in Japan for 5 years and during that time I saw far more crimes committed
by whites than by all other races combined!!!!
Wait.. who in the hell said these guys were black? If so, so
what if they are! I love it how blacks commit crimes simply because they’re
black....while whites commit crimes because they're....misguided or lonely, or
daddy didn’t play catch with them….etc .
I lived in Japan for 5 years and during that time I saw far more crimes committed
by whites than by all other races combined!!!!
I hope you tried to stop the crimes you witnessed or at least had the courage to report them. FYI the vast majority of crimes in Japan are committed by Japanese.
They're black. Source: Japanprobe.com
You always take your life into your own hands by attending a rap concert.
Yeah and heavy metal concerts and raves are so safe!!!!
Long live Rock'n Roll !!
You take you life into your own hands when you go to a Hotel room with someone you don't know! This didn't happen at a concert it happened at a hotel! Parents taught these girls well NOT....
A lot safer than hanging around the ghetto trash that attends Rap concerts.
I'm sure someone will be insisting their case be handled according to American laws. And why not it seems to be OK in America for the laws of other countries to override laws here.
Can you give us all examples that make this the rule, MikeNRGV? Any examples? I have this unfortunate trait of needing stats and facts ...
I get it Mike. ringsize42 doesn't understand your comment.
ringsize, Mike is talking about the fact that Shariah Law has been used in court in Florida ~and~ New Jersey. I'm posting just one link to each, but if you search online you will find more details and most likely more cases where Shariah Law has been used in the U.S..
keep your young girls home, and as far as i am concerned you can ban rap, and heavy metal !!
People used to say that about elvis...contributing to the moral disintegration of amerikuh.
Why keep the young girls at home? It's not them who are the problem. Shouldn't it be the men who have a curfew?
ringsize 42, had to laugh when I read your comment & have to agree.
If these two guys are found guilty they should be punished by the laws of Japan., Unfornitly the do not have the death penalty
Actually George, they do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Japan
Rap Sucks, I don't know how that music is still around, I think it is because parents like myself hate it and you know these days the kids have to like it because we hate it.. The words in the so call songs are about killing, drugs, rape, and treating girls like there whores and we wonder why there is so much stuff like this going on.. When you look up to crap as an idol you become crap just like that crap idol.. They go around with it so loud in there cars so everyone can hear it and sometimes when they pass in front of the house it shakes the ground, some of us older people need to get us a system like that and go around with talk radio up so loud that drives them crazy, lets see how much they would like that, lord knows they don't know whats going on in the world anyway.. Again Rap Sucks!!!!
Music???? Rap??? you gotta be kidding!!
A form of Rap has been around sine the 1930's, except then they were called 'Talking Songs'. If a person listens carefully to Rap, he/she might find that the killing, rape, whore calling and so forth has calmed down a lot.
Modern Rap actually has it's roots with the rock group Queen and the song 'We Will Rock You'. In addition there is a Rap version of 'Fat Bottomed Girls' and a few other songs.
Someone needs to get with the picture. Learn your music history.
Bah, modern rap has its origins in 60s spoken word poetry from artists like Gil Scott Heron. Everyone knows that, even the mouth-breathing rednecks who blame rap for the decline and fall of society (just like their parents said about Rock n Roll and Heavy, Punk, Thrash and Speed Metal. Hell, parents even blamed Columbine on Marilyn Manson...but we all know that was false because white kids listening to any musich never caused any violence anywhere)
@jackieboy: You make it seem as if rap is more acceptable now that it has "calmed down a lot" because of the, what, less lyrics referring to killing, rape, whore calling and so forth? So now rap is acceptable? BTW, I doubt any of todays rap "artists" have listed to any of the music or poetry from the 1930's or 1960's or any other era, no one back then glorified rape or murder, or referred to women as ho's n bitches.
If Obama had a son, he would murder someone in Japan.
I'm sorry but that made me giggle
It kind of reminds me of the Amanda Knox case in Italy, where the American girl and her boyfriends murdered her roommate. It wasn't long before the American news media and government got involved in the case and started pressuring the Italian government to free poor Amanda. After a few years in prison and an appeal, she's now back in the good old USA. Our state department succeeded in bringing a murderer back to the United States. She was guilty as sin. I hope that same scenario doesn't happen here. Yes, Americans can and do commit murders in foreign countries.
Hope these guys enjoy Japan's hospitality. It should be real fun for them.
Well at least the japaness men are small for booty call.
hehe.. yep. I've read that Japan has the harshest prisons in that region of the world too. China and South Korea can have nasty prison conditions, but Japan is a special sort of unpleasant. Prisoners are forbidden from talking altogether and are often made to sit in their tiny cells (kind of like permanent solitary), absolutely still, all day long. If they do not follow rules exactly - to Borglike precision - they are beaten and deprived of food.. and can have their hands secured for long intervals.
Japan's death row is widely regarded to have conditions tantamount to torture - not least because prisoners can be executed with no warning. Once appeals are exhausted, prisoners are kept for years under miserable conditions and the death warrants are signed in utter secrecy.. their lawyers aren't told.. they are simply taken from their cells in the night to the gallows (yes, Japan still uses the gallows).
The Japanese place great cultural value on discipline and precision.. and that's how their jails are like. Not the sort of place an American wants to wind up.
Enjoy...
If the article is correct and the " girls were assaulted in a taxi on way to hotel" Why would these girls ever have gone into the hotel room??? Something doesn't make sense....
I agree sounds like a local cover up.
Did you read the article? It said she was drunk.
Read the japanese version. The girls were so drunk they had to be toted to the cab.
Why did that Peruvian college student follow Natalie Holloway-suspect Van der Sloot into his hotel room, to get promptly murdered by that psychopath? There's no accounting for what people do when young, naive, stoned and/or drunk.
The police found her unconscious in a hotel room, but later she was found strangled, that statement alone would throw it out of US courts.
Well, JS, that is practiced here also, so 6dogs Zimmerman not a name?
Learn to read, and comprehend. She was found unconscious and taken to the hospital, where she later died, and they say she may have been strangled.
CaptDon: it is absolutely possible and almost probable that if strangled, not to the point of asphyxiation, you will lose consciousness. So, both statements can be correct. Either way, hopefully the 23 year old who has been named and also a photo of him is available on the internet,and the 19 year old, who was not named, if they are found guilty, will face Japanese punishment, and our government will not try to interfere with the legal process in Japan. These 2 make all Americans look bad.
Its a shame yet also a fact that today's women have yet to learn how to say no. Sad but true.
The fact that the victim agreed, along with her friend, to accompany two black Americans , whom they were willing to party with, can be of little consolation to their families.