US Marine indicted for murder and robbery of woman in Japan
A 20-year-old US Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan, has been indicted for the murder and robbery of a local woman. The incident has sparked public outrage and renewed protests regarding the conduct of US military personnel stationed in the region.
Why it matters
This case highlights long-standing tensions between the US military presence in Okinawa and the local Japanese population, potentially impacting bilateral security relations.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Devin Jacob Ballard was stationed at Futenma Air Station
A US Marine has been indicted on suspicion of murdering and robbing a woman in Japan earlier this month in a case that has triggered protests, Japanese media reports.
Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who was stationed at US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, was arrested on suspicion of killing Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa.
Prosecutors have now indicted him for allegedly strangling Yagi with a telephone cord and then stealing her backpack and wallet on 3 October, media reports, citing the indictment document.
It wasreported Ballard had denied the allegations, but Asahi Shimbun and Kyodo News cited investigators saying he has made some statements suggesting involvement.
Security footage allegedly shows a man believed to be the suspect entering the hotel with the woman and leaving alone with her belongings.
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