Prosecutors in Tokyo have demanded a 10-year jail term for the 19-year-old accused of murdering Irish student Nicola Furlong.

Summing up the 8-day trial lead prosecutors said Richard Hinds had shown no remorse and had "violated the dignity" of Ms Furlong by trying to portray her as "promiscuous." The prosecution intervened twice to stop Mr. Hinds addressing the Furlong family directly.

Meanwhile James Blackston has been given a 3-year sentence for assault on Nicola Furlong's friend. Mr. Blackston is a friend of Richard Hinds. His sentence also contains a spell of labour.

Yesterday Nicola's mother Angela read a victim impact statement to the court. She said that "given that the defendant has refused to take responsibility for what he did and has instead tried to blacken our daughter’s name with lies, I feel the punishment should at least begin to reflect the pain he has caused us and all the people who loved Nicola. And that pain that he continues to cause".

A verdict from the judges is expected early next week.

Irish Times reporter in Tokyo David McNeill was in court today. He told Breakfast here on Newstalk that if convicted Mr. Hinds is unlikely to get the death penalty.