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Marine in Okinawa Rape Case Released

Teen victim drops charges, but US is still investigating incident

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 29, 2008 10:22 AM CST
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(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.

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. Japanese police arrested the U.S. marine Monday for allegedly raping the 14-year-old Japanese girl, but the...
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, Feb. 12, 2008. Japan urged the U.S. military Tuesday to tighten discipline after Staff Sgt. Tyrone...
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 Tuesday to tighten discipline after Hadnott was arrested on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl...
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 of the US Embassy in Tokyo on February 13, 2008. US Staff...
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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Rice apologizes for troops' alleged misconduct
Bloomberg

Other alleged rape victim still pressing charges
The Inquirer

Rape allegations infuriate Japan
Los Angeles Times

 
Japan • Condoleezza Rice • rape • Okinawa • Marine • Tyrone Hadnott

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