Trial for ex-Marine accused of the murder of Okinawan woman continues: Defendant claims “I am not a bad person,” while prosecution recommends life sentence

Trial for ex-Marine accused of the murder of Okinawan woman continues: Defendant claims “I am not a bad person,” while prosecution recommends life sentence

Closing arguments and sentencing recommendations in the trial of the ex-Marine accused of murdering Okinawa woman. November 24, Naha District Court (example photo)


 

November 24, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition

 

The closing arguments and sentencing recommendations for the 33-year old ex-Marine accused of murder and rape resulting in death of an Okinawan woman back in April while working as a civilian on a U.S. military base began at 10 a.m. on November 24 at the Naha District Court (Judge Toshihiro Shibata presiding).

 

While the defendant has pled not guilty to murder, the prosecution has recommended a life sentence arguing, “The defendant’s crime should be recognized has having an intent to kill.”

 

Meanwhile, the victim’s parents have asked the court to consider capital punishment, while the defendant’s lawyer argued, “A life sentence would be too harsh. A definite term sentence is more suitable.”

 

At the end of the proceedings, the defendant made a statement, saying, “I am not a bad person. I did not mean for any of this to happen.”

 

The defendant was silent throughout the trial, however during closing arguments the prosecutor indicated the statements the defendant made to the police shortly after arrest, where he admitted to both strangling the victim as well as stabbing her in the neck, “making it clear that the defendant acted knowing that the danger of his actions would lead to a loss of life.”

 

During sentencing recommendations, the prosecution was “considering the death penalty,” due to a lack of apology or remorse from the defendant, but also took into consideration the defendant’s voluntary admission to police and his lack of a previous criminal record in Japan.

 

The defendant’s counsel argued that it could not be discounted that the victim died after striking her head on the ground when the defendant carried to and threw down her body at the scene of the crime, which does not constitute murder.

 

The defendant had pled not guilty to the charge of murder despite having already pled guilty to rape resulting in death and abandoning the victim’s body, saying he “had no intention of killing her.”

 

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

 

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