Ex-U.S. military base worker convicted of rape and murder of woman in Okinawa will not appeal life sentence, officially ending legal proceedings

Ex-U.S. military base worker convicted of rape and murder of woman in Okinawa will not appeal life sentence, officially ending legal proceedings

The location where the victim’s body was abandoned. Fresh flowers and drinks in PET bottles are arranged on a stand. September 20, Afuso, Onna


 

October 5, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Kenneth Franklin Shinzato (formerly Gadson), the ex-Marine and U.S. military base worker convicted of the rape and murder of a 20-year-old Okinawan woman while she was out walking in central Honshima and given a life sentence which was upheld in an initial appeal, missed the October 4 deadline to make a final appeal, solidifying the life sentence at 12:00 a.m. October 5. According to sources, Shinzato had been meeting with his lawyer’s up through October 4, and had decided not to appeal.

 

According to the ruling, Shinzato struck the victim in the head with a rod, after which he killed her by repeatedly stabbing her with a knife near the road where he encountered her. After this violent crime had taken its tragic turn, Shinzato abandoned the body in the mountains near Onna.

 

The victim’s father commented, “This has left a big hole in our hearts that cannot be filled. From now on the thoughts of our daughter will always remain the same.”

 

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

 

Go to Japanese 

 


 


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