Tokyo — A Japanese courtroom stated Wednesday it has discovered a U.S. Marine responsible of sexually assaulting a lady on Okinawa in a case that has triggered anger and security considerations on Japan’s southern island, which has a heavy American troop presence.
The Naha District Courtroom stated Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton, 22, of Ohio, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in jail within the case.
Clayton was discovered responsible of attacking the girl in her 20s within the Yomitan village on the principle Okinawa island in Might, 2024, choking, sexually assaulting and injuring her.
Obata stated the sufferer’s testimony, offered remotely and anonymously, was extremely credible although the defendant denied the fees introduced by the prosecutors, who demanded 10 years in jail, in accordance with Kyodo Information.
Japan Pool / Kyodo Information by way of AP
Obata described Clayton’s habits as “so harmful that it may have threatened her life, and extremely malicious,” Jiji Press reported, French information company AFP stated.
Clayton’s legal professionals are contemplating interesting the ruling, AFP cited native media as saying.
It was one in every of a string of sexual assault instances final 12 months wherein the arrests of the suspects have been initially withheld by native authorities on grounds of defending the victims’ privateness, triggering anger and criticisms of coverups.
Okinawa, the place one of many fiercest battles of World Warfare II was fought 80 years in the past and underneath U.S. occupation till 1972, stays dwelling to the vast majority of about 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan underneath a bilateral safety pact. The island, which accounts for less than 0.6% of Japanese land, hosts 70% of U.S. army amenities.
Frustration runs excessive on Okinawa due to its continued burden with the heavy U.S. presence that features noise, air pollution, plane accidents and crime associated to American troops.
Protection Minister Gen Nakatani, who attended Monday’s eightieth anniversary of the top of the Battle of Okinawa, raised considerations about latest sexual assault instances involving U.S. service members when he met with Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, the commander of III Marine Expeditionary Pressure, requesting self-discipline and preventive measures.
There have been rising requires a revision to the Standing of Forces Settlement that offers the US the proper to research most accidents and crimes that happen on Japanese soil.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ‘s Cupboard on Tuesday adopted an announcement exhibiting that Japanese prosecutors dropped felony instances in opposition to greater than 300 U.S. service members within the final decade between 2014 and 2024, together with a sexual assault case in Okinawa in 2020.
