Japan Press Weekly

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2017 November 22 - 28 [US FORCES]

Okinawa prosecutor demands life sentence on ex-US marine for rape and murder

Prosecutors at a trial held on November 24 in the Naha District Court in Okinawa demanded a life sentence on a former U.S. marine for the rape and murder of a Japanese woman.

In April 2016, the defendant, Kenneth Shinzato, killed a 20-year-old woman who lived in Okinawa’s Uruma City. At that time, the 33-year-old man was a civilian employee at a U.S. base in Okinawa. He was accused of rape causing the death of the woman and of dumping her body.

Shinzato admitted to the charges of rape and abandonment of the corpse but denied murder, saying that he did not have a murderous intent.

Prosecuting officers at a hearing on November 24 quoted Shinzato as saying in a police interview that he had stabbed the victim in the neck a few times. Citing this as evidence of intent, prosecutors argued that he had the intent to kill. They stressed that the defendant assaulted the woman just to satisfy his sexual desire, then went on to kill her and dispose of her body.

The court will hand down a ruling on December 1.

Past related articles:
> Over 210,000 incidents involving US soldiers occur since 1952 in Japan [November 19&20, 2017]
> Okinawans protest alleged murder of Japanese woman by ex-US marine []May 21, 2016]