Japan indicts US Marine on murder charge in Okinawa

Japanese prosecutors indicted a US Marine on murder and robbery charges over the death of a 39-year-old Japanese woman in Okinawa, a court spokesman in Naha told AFP on Monday, Oct 26. Okinawa prefectural police said they arrested Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, stationed at Futenma Air Station, on suspicion of strangling Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported, citing the indictment, that the suspect strangled her with a telephone cord on Oct. 3 and stole her backpack. The Marine denied the allegations at arrest but has since made statements implying some involvement, according to the Yomiuri and other media citing investigative sources. Prime Minister Japan's premier called the killing a "heinous crime". Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said officials were reviewing the off-base conduct code for US troops. The US military imposed a two-day operational pause and a month-long curfew. The III Marine Expeditionary Force said it would cooperate fully with Japanese authorities.

Where accounts differ. The Daily Star and CBS say the Marine denied the allegations at arrest, while the ABC reports he has denied them, with no other conflicting accounts; Malay Mail's report is limited to the indictment and protest, omitting the suspect's identity and the investigation details.

Channel NewsAsia (CNA)CBS NewsAustralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)The Daily Star

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