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Marine in Okinawa Rape Case Released

Posted Feb 29, 08 10:22 AM CST in World 

(Newser) – A US Marine was released into US custody today after Japanese prosecutors dropped rape charges against him, Reuters reports. The Okinawa arrest had sparked outrage across Japan, but prosecutors backed off when the alleged victim withdrew her accusations. The 38-year-old Marine had admitted holding down his 14-year-old accuser but maintained he’d only kissed her.

Prosecutors said they weren’t indicting the suspect “out of consideration for the victim’s feelings.” The Marines are still investigating the case and say it’s “premature to speculate on any further legal action on our part.” The allegations had threatened to become a diplomatic incident, with Japan’s prime minister calling the act “unforgivable” and Condoleezza Rice flying to Japan in part to apologize.

Source Reuters

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A woman strolls an area where Tyrone Luther Hadnott, a 38-year-old marine of Camp Courtney in Okinawa, is believed to meet a Japanese schoolgirl, in Okinawa city, southern Japan, Monday, Feb. 11, 2008....   (Associated Press)
Japanese protesters shout slogans in front of a U.S. camp on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, after American Marine was arrested on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl in Okinawa, Tuesday,...   (Associated Press)
A van carrying U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Tyrone Luther Hadnott leaves police station as he is trensferred to prosecutors in Okinawa city Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. Top Japanese officials urged the U.S. military...   (Associated Press)
An Australian woman -who was raped by a US sailor in 2002 in the Japanese city of Yokosuka- displays a placard during a protest against a US Marine's alleged rape of a young girl in Okinawa, in front...   (Getty Images)
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Japan  • Condoleezza Rice  • rape  • Marine  • Okinawa  • Tyrone Hadnott


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