I wish my Nicola's killer got the death penalty

Dad recalls beautiful daughter on anniversary of her death

- SEAN MURPHY

THE dad of a young woman murdered in Japan said he wishes her killer had been given the death penalty.

Nicola Furlong, a student from Wexford, was only 21 when she was strangled by evil Richard Hinds on May 24, 2012.

Tomorrow marks the 11th anniversary of her death but it is the first since Hinds, who was aged 19 in 2012, was freed last November after serving a maximum 10-year sentence.

Nicola's dad Andrew told the Irish Mirror: "He was tried and sentenced as a minor so he could not be considered for the death penalty in Japan.

"It was his first offence. Nicola's [murder] led to calls for a law change in Japan.

"If it was in when he was convicted, he could've got the death penalty.

"I wanted him to get it. Initially, he was to be tried as an adult, but less than six months later, he was changed to a minor.