September 29, 2025 • 20 mins
Donna Nelson, a respected Perth grandmother and community leader, has lost her appeal in Japan after being sentenced for drug smuggling, despite her claim she was the victim of a sophisticated online love scam.
We sit down with two of her heartbroken daughters to uncover the story of how she was deceived into carrying two kilograms of meth and what life is like for her inside a Japanese jail.
And in headlines today, US President Donald Trump has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning, Trump saying a peace deal for Gaza is very close; JK Rowling has hit back at Emma Watson as their feud over trans issues continues; The Utah trade school student charged with murdering right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk has made a brief court appearance, where his new legal defence team confirmed they will seek a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed to a trial; Australia will be impacted by another of Donald Trump’s decisions with the US President saying he will impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas
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Hosts: Taylah Strano & Claire Murphy
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
You're listening to Amma Mia podcast. Mamma Mea acknowledges the
traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast is
recorded on.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hey, I'm Taylor Strano. This is Mamma Mer's twice daily
news podcast, The Quickie. Today we're sharing the story of
Donna Nelson, grandmother, community leader, and now convicted drug smuggler,
despite claims she was the victim of a love scammer.
Late last week, Donna lost her appeal to the japan
High Court. Now we'll be speaking with her shocked family
(00:45):
about it all before we get there. He is Clare
Murphy with the latest from the Quicki newsroom for Tuesday,
September thirty.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Thanks Taylor. US President Donald Trump has met with Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Ettnyahu this morning, Trump saying a Pea
steal for Gaza is very close. The White House released
a twenty point plan that outlined the peace process, including
that Palestinians would be able to stay in or return
to Gaza. But the plan relies on cooperation from Hamas,
the militant group whose attack on Israel on October seven
(01:15):
started the latest conflict, to release the Israeli hostages. The
plan would also seek to release hundreds of Palestinians held
in Israeli prisons, have the Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza
and AID returned to support the population who are left
with badly damaged or destroyed infrastructure. A temporary committee would
also be set up to govern Gaza, a committee headed
(01:36):
by Donald Trump.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
JK.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Rowling has hit back at Emma Watson as their feud
over trans issues continues. The Harry Potter author has suggested
that Watson's criticism of her critical stance on transgender issues
has poured more petrol on the flames of the abuse
she's been subjected to, even though the thirty five year
old star suggested last week that she still treasures Rowling
despite their differing opinions. In a lengthy statement posted on
(02:00):
social media, the sixty year old author wrote, Emma and Dan,
referring to Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the
series in particular, have both made it clear over the
last few years that they think our former professional association
gives them a particular rite, nay obligation to critique me
and my views in public. She went on to say
that years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue
(02:22):
to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the
world I created. Rawling explained that she feels protective of
the Harry Potter trio, who she's known since they were
just ten years of age, but says she can no
longer stay silent on the criticism of her views, saying,
for the past few years, I've repeatedly declined invitations from
journalists a comment on Emma, specifically, most notably in The
(02:44):
Witch Trials of JK. Rowling, the podcast that covered her
trans issues. Ironically, she said, I told the producers I
didn't want her to be hounded as a result of
anything I said. Rowling suggested Watson's privileged upbringing makes her
unqualified to speak about trans issues that impact the general public,
saying that she Rowling wasn't a millionaire at fourteen, unlike Watson,
(03:04):
and that she'd lived in poverty while writing the book
that made Emma famous and therefore more qual to speak
about the issue of women's rights. The Utah Trade School
student charged with murdering right wing political activist Charlie Kirk
has made a brief court appearance where his new legal
defense team confirmed they will seek a preliminary hearing to
determine whether there's enough evidence to proceed to trial. Twenty
(03:26):
two year old Tyler Robinson is accused of firing the
single rifle shot from a rooftop sniper's perch that took
Kirk's life on September ten, while the right wing activist,
a close ally of President Donald Trump, was addressing a
crowd on a university campus in Utah. Robinson, who was
arrested after a thirty three hour manhunt, has been jailed
without bond on charges of aggravated murder and several other
(03:48):
criminal offenses, prosecutors saying they will seek the death penalty
if he's convicted. Robinson's lawyer said she didn't want to
waive the preliminary hearing, where the prosecution has to demonstrate
to the judge that there's sufficient evidence to support the charges.
The defense will also need time to examine the evidence,
suggesting it may take months before this hearing can take place.
(04:08):
Australia will be impacted by another of Donald Trump's decisions,
with the US presidents saying he will impose a one
hundred percent tariff on all films produced overseas. Australia has
become home to a swag of Hollywood movies and streaming
dramas in recent years, with blockbusters like Thor, Ragnarok, Aquaman,
some of the Mission Impossible franchise, and mad Max Fury
Road all filmed here, mostly in locations across New South
(04:31):
Wales and Queensland. But Trump says the movie making business
has been stolen from the US, just like stealing candy
from a baby. It's not clear what legal authority the
Trump administration would employ to impose the tariff. Back in May,
when Trump announced he was considering implementing the tariff on filmmaking,
studio executives said they couldn't see how it would work,
seeing as they relied on overseas productions spread across multiple countries,
(04:54):
including Australia.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Thanks Claire Next a story that sounds more like a
movie than real life, but for one Perth grandmother, it's
a heartbreaking reality. Donna Nelson's life looks on paper like
so many others. She raised five daughters, worked in social justice,
(05:17):
mentored others, and took on leadership roles in her community.
Donna's name was even on the ballot running for the Greens,
but behind the scenes, things were changing. It started with lockdowns.
Like all of us, Donna found herself spending more time online.
That's where she met Kelly through an international dating site.
(05:41):
He was charming. Claimed he was a businessman living in
Japan but originally from Nigeria, showing off snapshots of a
life that seemed successful and safe. Donna started talking to Kelly.
Trust grew and eventually she felt there could be love.
That's where things turned. Kelly arranged for Donna to travel
through Loud to Japan in January twenty twenty three. He
(06:04):
asked her to pick up a suitcase, just clothing samples,
he said, for the business. When Donna reached Narita Airport,
Japanese customs discovered something devastating two kilograms of meth and
phetamine hidden beneath a false bottom in the case. In
an instant, Donna went from hopeful traveler to accuse drug smuggler,
caught up in something she never saw coming. Despite Donna's
(06:27):
insistence that she had no idea what she was carrying,
she was arrested as she arrived in Tokyo. In Japan,
the conviction rate for drug smuggling offenses is sky high,
and any drug import into the country means years behind bars.
In December twenty twenty four, Donna was sentenced to six years.
(06:48):
Last week, she lost her appeal. The court claims she
should have known what was happening, but experts say her
experience fits the classic pattern of a romance scam, where
criminals start with trust and end with tragedy. Whenever her
family speaks about what's happened, the heartbreak comes through. They've
watched her struggle with anger, shade, and grief, and they
(07:11):
fought tirelessly to bring her home. Today we sit down
with two of Donna's daughters, Crystal and Ashley. They'll help
us understand how a trusted mum, loved by her family
and her community could wind up in the middle of
an international scandal. Crystal Ashley, thanks for joining us. Crystal,
I want to start with you. You and a few of
(07:32):
your sisters and some of Donna's grandkids were in Japan
for that decision on her appeal last week. Now that
was rejected, how's the family feeling at this current moment
in time.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
I guess we're feeling a lot of support. We've had
a lot of support from the community. We've had a
lot of support from DEFAT. They have been checking in
to see how we're doing, and every time we go
over there we catch up with the consular officers who
visit mum, so we've got a pretty good relationship there
as well. We are feeling a bit of support as
(08:07):
well with our w premiere. We've seen a statement that
he made the day after the hearing. I guess it
was or decision. So even though it's been a very
difficult time, having that support helps you to get through
and it helps you to pick up the hope again,
because in the beginning it was really feeling like there's
(08:31):
no hope.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Actually, a lot of people would have seen your mum's name,
maybe read her story, but that doesn't necessarily mean they
know who she is as a woman. Can you tell
us a bit about your mum? What should people know
about Donner?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Mom is a very kind person. She's someone who she
doesn't need a lot to be happy, never been like
a materialistic sort of person. She just wants to be
loved and to share love. And ever since this whole
situation has come about, I think what really speaks to
(09:07):
the person that mum is is every time she finds
out about other people who are in a similar situation.
All of her empathy goes towards them and not herself,
and that is the biggest indicator of the amazing, kind
hearted person that she is. And she's the person who
(09:30):
raised us to be the strong women we are today.
So we're all very, very proud to be her daughters.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
She's also remained quite optimistic through the whole process. How
is she now?
Speaker 4 (09:45):
That's a hard one because we got to have, well
not myself, but the other siblings. They got to have
a couple of visits with Mum in the lead up
to thirst day, and she had zeroed out in her
mind that she would be coming home soon after us,
and that we'd be planning her return. She's soon to
(10:07):
be a grandmother for a little girl, and she really
thought that she would be coming home to welcome the
next grandchild into the family. So she was focusing on
a lot of things and it was a big fall
to come down from. When I got to see her
the day after, she was very emotional. I think she
(10:30):
was still in a bit of shock. She would be
getting a visit today from her consular officers who will
be checking how she's doing. I do think her being
able to see us before we left was a really
good thing for her. We were able to just tell her,
you know, we're not going to stop fighting. We're going
to have you home. You don't need to become comfortable
(10:52):
where you are because you're not going to be staying there.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Has she given you an indication of what life is
like inside a Japanese prison, That's something that most people
listening I think probably haven't even pondered before.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Yeah, one hundred percent. So it's pretty different to what
we may imagine that life in her situation might be. Like,
she's in herself for twenty three and a half hours
a day if it's a day where it's good weather
where you can go out and exercise, or if it's
a day where she's scheduled to have her bath, which
(11:27):
is twice a week. If it's a public holiday or
a weekend, you don't come out of your cell in
those times. So I know, in May there's like a
whole week of public holidays, so for that week, she
would have been no contact with anyone aside from getting
her food and a good morning, which isn't usually in English,
(11:49):
but it makes her day if she is told good
morning and it's in English that she can understand. For her,
the most difficult part of her detainment or I hate
using the word imprisonment, it just makes me really uncomfortable.
But yeah, the most difficult thing for her is the isolation.
(12:12):
The conditions where she is right now is better than
where she was previously, so she has heating and calling,
so her body is not under this constant stress trying
to deal with some of the extreme weather conditions that
she has. But even though it's physically more comfortable, it's
still pretty difficult with the isolation and the loneliness is
(12:34):
something that really affects her.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
During the trial, you actually took the stand, How did
you come to that decision and what was that experience?
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Like that was the most traumatic experience I reckon. I've
never been outside of Australia before, so my first time
leaving the country, I'm going to a place where they
don't even speak English as a first language. And then
not only that, but I'm going to a courtroom who
(13:07):
testified in my mom trial to hopefully bring her home.
The hardest part is not knowing what's actually happening in
the moment. So while I'm on the stand, if I'm
being asked something. Before it even gets told to me
through the translator, it stopped and there's a big discussion
(13:28):
about that question, and I'm just sitting there, thinking, what's happening.
Are they going to ask me or are we going
to go to a different question. I think it was
really really hard. But the hardest part above all of
that was seeing my mom brought in like a criminal,
(13:48):
like in handcuffs with two big, giant guards. And she's
this little, tiny woman, and as soon as she saw me,
she was just crying. And I wasn't expecting to see
her so quickly. I thought maybe i'd get a bit
of a warning, but immediately my husband and I just
started to cry, and she was, and she was saying
(14:11):
I love you and I'm sorry. And in that moment,
I realized I had to block my mom out because
I literally have to get on the stand and remember
everything I have to make clear. Even while giving testimony,
I could hear my mum crying and saying sorry when
(14:32):
I was talking about how I tried to warn her,
and it sounds really harsh, but I had to just
block her out for her like purpose. I longed to
hear her voice after so long. But I couldn't just
be in the moment and hear her. I had to
just block her out and do what I was meant
(14:55):
to do, and that was probably easily the hardest part.
I got actually sick as soon as I got back
to the hotel. I got really sick, So it shows
that it had like such a physical effect on my body,
not just the mental. So yeah, that was pretty rough. Probably,
I would say it's the hardest thing I'll ever have
(15:16):
to do in my life.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Crystal. This fight to bring your mum home is not
yet over. Your family now needs to decide whether to
appeal that ruling or maybe to seek to have her
sent back to Australia as part of a prisoner swap deal.
At this stage, has the family made any decisions on
what they're going to do next.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
The decision will come down to what mum decides. They've
already acknowledged that she's the victim of a romance scam,
so even with that acknowledgment, two different courts have still
kept the same decision. It's very hard to try and
imagine it going another way, especially against the kind of
(15:59):
odds that there are. As a family, we hope that
she doesn't appeal. We feel that we can have more
faith in our Garvna meant to act on her behalf
and to try and have the right discussions to convince
(16:19):
the Japanese government that bringing her home is the best
thing to do.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
At this stage, this could be Christmas in Japan, not
at home with her family. There's a new baby on
the way. How are you guys coping with that? Do
you lean on each other for support at times like that?
Speaker 4 (16:38):
Christmas is like the worst day. It's not a happy
time for us because our last good memories with Mum
were at Christmas time. Straight after Christmas, she had gone
to go see Ash on Boxing Day. It was so
important that she got to have that bestive season with
(17:00):
all of her kids, So she had the morning with us,
and then Boxing Day flew to go see Ash for
a few days in Brisbane, and then the night she
gets back, she comes to my house to collect her passport.
So Christmas is a really horrible time for us because
it's the last good family time we got to have
(17:22):
with her. And I haven't even looked at finances or
anything like that, but in my mind, if she's not
home for Christmas. I want to do what I can
to go over there. It's not a public holiday for
Christmas in Japan, so I'd be able to see her
on Christmas Day, and to me, that's the only way
(17:42):
it could even feel like Christmas is to see her.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Actually, just to wrap up, what's the last thing you
want people to know about Donna? And if they're listening
to this or they're following her story along, what should
we take home and remember about her?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I look at a lot of the social media comments
made about my mom. I know it's not ideal and
people won't understand it, but it gives me a sort
of perception of how the public kind of views my
mum's situation. And at the end of the day, what
I see is a lot of judgment on my mum.
(18:20):
But my mum knows that she was naive with believing
in this person that she thought she was going to marry.
She feels very silly, So no one could be harder
on Mum than she is on herself. And in that aspect,
she doesn't think that she made the right decision believing
(18:41):
in him. And I think what Mum wants is she's
always wanted us to raise awareness of her situation, because
if she can save others from heading down the route
that she's gone down, then that would be a huge
success to her.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
This can happen to maybe not anyone, but it can
happen to almost anyone. With how her life was going
and she was lonely as well, like she really wanted
to find love. She wasn't a stupid person. She's a
very intelligent woman. And I guess that just goes to
(19:20):
show that this can happen to anybody. And I guess
if you have a family member who is doing the
online dating and wants to meet someone overseas, if you
have someone in your family doing that, then please have
them have their love interest come to Australia to see
(19:43):
them first. If that's the one thing that we could
really really have pushed, and we did try, but I
guess understanding just how sort of brainwatched these scammers can
have your loved one.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Thanks for taking some time to feed your mind to
us today. The quickie is produced by me Table Strano
and Clare Murphy, with audio production by Tea. You Can
Saidlow
You're listening to Amma Mia podcast. Mamma Mea acknowledges the
traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast is
recorded on.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hey, I'm Taylor Strano. This is Mamma Mer's twice daily
news podcast, The Quickie. Today we're sharing the story of
Donna Nelson, grandmother, community leader, and now convicted drug smuggler,
despite claims she was the victim of a love scammer.
Late last week, Donna lost her appeal to the japan
High Court. Now we'll be speaking with her shocked family
(00:45):
about it all before we get there. He is Clare
Murphy with the latest from the Quicki newsroom for Tuesday,
September thirty.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Thanks Taylor. US President Donald Trump has met with Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Ettnyahu this morning, Trump saying a Pea
steal for Gaza is very close. The White House released
a twenty point plan that outlined the peace process, including
that Palestinians would be able to stay in or return
to Gaza. But the plan relies on cooperation from Hamas,
the militant group whose attack on Israel on October seven
(01:15):
started the latest conflict, to release the Israeli hostages. The
plan would also seek to release hundreds of Palestinians held
in Israeli prisons, have the Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza
and AID returned to support the population who are left
with badly damaged or destroyed infrastructure. A temporary committee would
also be set up to govern Gaza, a committee headed
(01:36):
by Donald Trump.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
JK.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Rowling has hit back at Emma Watson as their feud
over trans issues continues. The Harry Potter author has suggested
that Watson's criticism of her critical stance on transgender issues
has poured more petrol on the flames of the abuse
she's been subjected to, even though the thirty five year
old star suggested last week that she still treasures Rowling
despite their differing opinions. In a lengthy statement posted on
(02:00):
social media, the sixty year old author wrote, Emma and Dan,
referring to Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the
series in particular, have both made it clear over the
last few years that they think our former professional association
gives them a particular rite, nay obligation to critique me
and my views in public. She went on to say
that years after they finished acting in Potter, they continue
(02:22):
to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the
world I created. Rawling explained that she feels protective of
the Harry Potter trio, who she's known since they were
just ten years of age, but says she can no
longer stay silent on the criticism of her views, saying,
for the past few years, I've repeatedly declined invitations from
journalists a comment on Emma, specifically, most notably in The
(02:44):
Witch Trials of JK. Rowling, the podcast that covered her
trans issues. Ironically, she said, I told the producers I
didn't want her to be hounded as a result of
anything I said. Rowling suggested Watson's privileged upbringing makes her
unqualified to speak about trans issues that impact the general public,
saying that she Rowling wasn't a millionaire at fourteen, unlike Watson,
(03:04):
and that she'd lived in poverty while writing the book
that made Emma famous and therefore more qual to speak
about the issue of women's rights. The Utah Trade School
student charged with murdering right wing political activist Charlie Kirk
has made a brief court appearance where his new legal
defense team confirmed they will seek a preliminary hearing to
determine whether there's enough evidence to proceed to trial. Twenty
(03:26):
two year old Tyler Robinson is accused of firing the
single rifle shot from a rooftop sniper's perch that took
Kirk's life on September ten, while the right wing activist,
a close ally of President Donald Trump, was addressing a
crowd on a university campus in Utah. Robinson, who was
arrested after a thirty three hour manhunt, has been jailed
without bond on charges of aggravated murder and several other
(03:48):
criminal offenses, prosecutors saying they will seek the death penalty
if he's convicted. Robinson's lawyer said she didn't want to
waive the preliminary hearing, where the prosecution has to demonstrate
to the judge that there's sufficient evidence to support the charges.
The defense will also need time to examine the evidence,
suggesting it may take months before this hearing can take place.
(04:08):
Australia will be impacted by another of Donald Trump's decisions,
with the US presidents saying he will impose a one
hundred percent tariff on all films produced overseas. Australia has
become home to a swag of Hollywood movies and streaming
dramas in recent years, with blockbusters like Thor, Ragnarok, Aquaman,
some of the Mission Impossible franchise, and mad Max Fury
Road all filmed here, mostly in locations across New South
(04:31):
Wales and Queensland. But Trump says the movie making business
has been stolen from the US, just like stealing candy
from a baby. It's not clear what legal authority the
Trump administration would employ to impose the tariff. Back in May,
when Trump announced he was considering implementing the tariff on filmmaking,
studio executives said they couldn't see how it would work,
seeing as they relied on overseas productions spread across multiple countries,
(04:54):
including Australia.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Thanks Claire Next a story that sounds more like a
movie than real life, but for one Perth grandmother, it's
a heartbreaking reality. Donna Nelson's life looks on paper like
so many others. She raised five daughters, worked in social justice,
(05:17):
mentored others, and took on leadership roles in her community.
Donna's name was even on the ballot running for the Greens,
but behind the scenes, things were changing. It started with lockdowns.
Like all of us, Donna found herself spending more time online.
That's where she met Kelly through an international dating site.
(05:41):
He was charming. Claimed he was a businessman living in
Japan but originally from Nigeria, showing off snapshots of a
life that seemed successful and safe. Donna started talking to Kelly.
Trust grew and eventually she felt there could be love.
That's where things turned. Kelly arranged for Donna to travel
through Loud to Japan in January twenty twenty three. He
(06:04):
asked her to pick up a suitcase, just clothing samples,
he said, for the business. When Donna reached Narita Airport,
Japanese customs discovered something devastating two kilograms of meth and
phetamine hidden beneath a false bottom in the case. In
an instant, Donna went from hopeful traveler to accuse drug smuggler,
caught up in something she never saw coming. Despite Donna's
(06:27):
insistence that she had no idea what she was carrying,
she was arrested as she arrived in Tokyo. In Japan,
the conviction rate for drug smuggling offenses is sky high,
and any drug import into the country means years behind bars.
In December twenty twenty four, Donna was sentenced to six years.
(06:48):
Last week, she lost her appeal. The court claims she
should have known what was happening, but experts say her
experience fits the classic pattern of a romance scam, where
criminals start with trust and end with tragedy. Whenever her
family speaks about what's happened, the heartbreak comes through. They've
watched her struggle with anger, shade, and grief, and they
(07:11):
fought tirelessly to bring her home. Today we sit down
with two of Donna's daughters, Crystal and Ashley. They'll help
us understand how a trusted mum, loved by her family
and her community could wind up in the middle of
an international scandal. Crystal Ashley, thanks for joining us. Crystal,
I want to start with you. You and a few of
(07:32):
your sisters and some of Donna's grandkids were in Japan
for that decision on her appeal last week. Now that
was rejected, how's the family feeling at this current moment
in time.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
I guess we're feeling a lot of support. We've had
a lot of support from the community. We've had a
lot of support from DEFAT. They have been checking in
to see how we're doing, and every time we go
over there we catch up with the consular officers who
visit mum, so we've got a pretty good relationship there
as well. We are feeling a bit of support as
(08:07):
well with our w premiere. We've seen a statement that
he made the day after the hearing. I guess it
was or decision. So even though it's been a very
difficult time, having that support helps you to get through
and it helps you to pick up the hope again,
because in the beginning it was really feeling like there's
(08:31):
no hope.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Actually, a lot of people would have seen your mum's name,
maybe read her story, but that doesn't necessarily mean they
know who she is as a woman. Can you tell
us a bit about your mum? What should people know
about Donner?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Mom is a very kind person. She's someone who she
doesn't need a lot to be happy, never been like
a materialistic sort of person. She just wants to be
loved and to share love. And ever since this whole
situation has come about, I think what really speaks to
(09:07):
the person that mum is is every time she finds
out about other people who are in a similar situation.
All of her empathy goes towards them and not herself,
and that is the biggest indicator of the amazing, kind
hearted person that she is. And she's the person who
(09:30):
raised us to be the strong women we are today.
So we're all very, very proud to be her daughters.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
She's also remained quite optimistic through the whole process. How
is she now?
Speaker 4 (09:45):
That's a hard one because we got to have, well
not myself, but the other siblings. They got to have
a couple of visits with Mum in the lead up
to thirst day, and she had zeroed out in her
mind that she would be coming home soon after us,
and that we'd be planning her return. She's soon to
(10:07):
be a grandmother for a little girl, and she really
thought that she would be coming home to welcome the
next grandchild into the family. So she was focusing on
a lot of things and it was a big fall
to come down from. When I got to see her
the day after, she was very emotional. I think she
(10:30):
was still in a bit of shock. She would be
getting a visit today from her consular officers who will
be checking how she's doing. I do think her being
able to see us before we left was a really
good thing for her. We were able to just tell her,
you know, we're not going to stop fighting. We're going
to have you home. You don't need to become comfortable
(10:52):
where you are because you're not going to be staying there.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Has she given you an indication of what life is
like inside a Japanese prison, That's something that most people
listening I think probably haven't even pondered before.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Yeah, one hundred percent. So it's pretty different to what
we may imagine that life in her situation might be. Like,
she's in herself for twenty three and a half hours
a day if it's a day where it's good weather
where you can go out and exercise, or if it's
a day where she's scheduled to have her bath, which
(11:27):
is twice a week. If it's a public holiday or
a weekend, you don't come out of your cell in
those times. So I know, in May there's like a
whole week of public holidays, so for that week, she
would have been no contact with anyone aside from getting
her food and a good morning, which isn't usually in English,
(11:49):
but it makes her day if she is told good
morning and it's in English that she can understand. For her,
the most difficult part of her detainment or I hate
using the word imprisonment, it just makes me really uncomfortable.
But yeah, the most difficult thing for her is the isolation.
(12:12):
The conditions where she is right now is better than
where she was previously, so she has heating and calling,
so her body is not under this constant stress trying
to deal with some of the extreme weather conditions that
she has. But even though it's physically more comfortable, it's
still pretty difficult with the isolation and the loneliness is
(12:34):
something that really affects her.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
During the trial, you actually took the stand, How did
you come to that decision and what was that experience?
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Like that was the most traumatic experience I reckon. I've
never been outside of Australia before, so my first time
leaving the country, I'm going to a place where they
don't even speak English as a first language. And then
not only that, but I'm going to a courtroom who
(13:07):
testified in my mom trial to hopefully bring her home.
The hardest part is not knowing what's actually happening in
the moment. So while I'm on the stand, if I'm
being asked something. Before it even gets told to me
through the translator, it stopped and there's a big discussion
(13:28):
about that question, and I'm just sitting there, thinking, what's happening.
Are they going to ask me or are we going
to go to a different question. I think it was
really really hard. But the hardest part above all of
that was seeing my mom brought in like a criminal,
(13:48):
like in handcuffs with two big, giant guards. And she's
this little, tiny woman, and as soon as she saw me,
she was just crying. And I wasn't expecting to see
her so quickly. I thought maybe i'd get a bit
of a warning, but immediately my husband and I just
started to cry, and she was, and she was saying
(14:11):
I love you and I'm sorry. And in that moment,
I realized I had to block my mom out because
I literally have to get on the stand and remember
everything I have to make clear. Even while giving testimony,
I could hear my mum crying and saying sorry when
(14:32):
I was talking about how I tried to warn her,
and it sounds really harsh, but I had to just
block her out for her like purpose. I longed to
hear her voice after so long. But I couldn't just
be in the moment and hear her. I had to
just block her out and do what I was meant
(14:55):
to do, and that was probably easily the hardest part.
I got actually sick as soon as I got back
to the hotel. I got really sick, So it shows
that it had like such a physical effect on my body,
not just the mental. So yeah, that was pretty rough. Probably,
I would say it's the hardest thing I'll ever have
(15:16):
to do in my life.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Crystal. This fight to bring your mum home is not
yet over. Your family now needs to decide whether to
appeal that ruling or maybe to seek to have her
sent back to Australia as part of a prisoner swap deal.
At this stage, has the family made any decisions on
what they're going to do next.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
The decision will come down to what mum decides. They've
already acknowledged that she's the victim of a romance scam,
so even with that acknowledgment, two different courts have still
kept the same decision. It's very hard to try and
imagine it going another way, especially against the kind of
(15:59):
odds that there are. As a family, we hope that
she doesn't appeal. We feel that we can have more
faith in our Garvna meant to act on her behalf
and to try and have the right discussions to convince
(16:19):
the Japanese government that bringing her home is the best
thing to do.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
At this stage, this could be Christmas in Japan, not
at home with her family. There's a new baby on
the way. How are you guys coping with that? Do
you lean on each other for support at times like that?
Speaker 4 (16:38):
Christmas is like the worst day. It's not a happy
time for us because our last good memories with Mum
were at Christmas time. Straight after Christmas, she had gone
to go see Ash on Boxing Day. It was so
important that she got to have that bestive season with
(17:00):
all of her kids, So she had the morning with us,
and then Boxing Day flew to go see Ash for
a few days in Brisbane, and then the night she
gets back, she comes to my house to collect her passport.
So Christmas is a really horrible time for us because
it's the last good family time we got to have
(17:22):
with her. And I haven't even looked at finances or
anything like that, but in my mind, if she's not
home for Christmas. I want to do what I can
to go over there. It's not a public holiday for
Christmas in Japan, so I'd be able to see her
on Christmas Day, and to me, that's the only way
(17:42):
it could even feel like Christmas is to see her.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Actually, just to wrap up, what's the last thing you
want people to know about Donna? And if they're listening
to this or they're following her story along, what should
we take home and remember about her?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I look at a lot of the social media comments
made about my mom. I know it's not ideal and
people won't understand it, but it gives me a sort
of perception of how the public kind of views my
mum's situation. And at the end of the day, what
I see is a lot of judgment on my mum.
(18:20):
But my mum knows that she was naive with believing
in this person that she thought she was going to marry.
She feels very silly, So no one could be harder
on Mum than she is on herself. And in that aspect,
she doesn't think that she made the right decision believing
(18:41):
in him. And I think what Mum wants is she's
always wanted us to raise awareness of her situation, because
if she can save others from heading down the route
that she's gone down, then that would be a huge
success to her.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
This can happen to maybe not anyone, but it can
happen to almost anyone. With how her life was going
and she was lonely as well, like she really wanted
to find love. She wasn't a stupid person. She's a
very intelligent woman. And I guess that just goes to
(19:20):
show that this can happen to anybody. And I guess
if you have a family member who is doing the
online dating and wants to meet someone overseas, if you
have someone in your family doing that, then please have
them have their love interest come to Australia to see
(19:43):
them first. If that's the one thing that we could
really really have pushed, and we did try, but I
guess understanding just how sort of brainwatched these scammers can
have your loved one.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Thanks for taking some time to feed your mind to
us today. The quickie is produced by me Table Strano
and Clare Murphy, with audio production by Tea. You Can
Saidlow
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