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Okinawa rape case: Japan court jails US sailors | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Two US sailors have been sentenced to prison for the rape of a Japanese woman in Okinawa, in a case that has generated strong anti-American feeling. | Two US sailors have been sentenced to prison for the rape of a Japanese woman in Okinawa, in a case that has generated strong anti-American feeling. |
The Naha district court handed Christopher Browning 10 years in jail and Skyler Dozierwalker nine years. | The Naha district court handed Christopher Browning 10 years in jail and Skyler Dozierwalker nine years. |
In his verdict, the judge said the men were "contemptible and violent". | In his verdict, the judge said the men were "contemptible and violent". |
The incident in October 2012 exacerbated resentment of the US military presence on the island and resulted in a curfew for US troops. | The incident in October 2012 exacerbated resentment of the US military presence on the island and resulted in a curfew for US troops. |
Browning, 24, and Dozierwalker, 23, had pleaded guilty on Tuesday. | Browning, 24, and Dozierwalker, 23, had pleaded guilty on Tuesday. |
Prosecutors had initially asked for a 12-year sentence for Browning, who also stole money from the victim. | Prosecutors had initially asked for a 12-year sentence for Browning, who also stole money from the victim. |
"The ruling may seem severe, but the damage to the feelings of the victim and residents is more severe," Judge Hideyuki Suzuki was quoted by Kyodo news agency as saying. | "The ruling may seem severe, but the damage to the feelings of the victim and residents is more severe," Judge Hideyuki Suzuki was quoted by Kyodo news agency as saying. |
In the wake of the attack, Okinawa's legislature passed a protest resolution calling on the US to prevent crimes against local residents. | In the wake of the attack, Okinawa's legislature passed a protest resolution calling on the US to prevent crimes against local residents. |
US troops throughout Japan were placed under a night-time curfew, which was lifted for senior personnel and eased slightly for other personnel in February. | US troops throughout Japan were placed under a night-time curfew, which was lifted for senior personnel and eased slightly for other personnel in February. |
The US bases some 26,000 troops on Okinawa under the terms of a long-standing security alliance with Japan. | The US bases some 26,000 troops on Okinawa under the terms of a long-standing security alliance with Japan. |
But the gang-rape in 1995 of a 12-year-old girl by three US service personnel led to moves to reduce the US military footprint there, amid island-wide outrage. | But the gang-rape in 1995 of a 12-year-old girl by three US service personnel led to moves to reduce the US military footprint there, amid island-wide outrage. |
The US says it is planning to relocate several thousand marines off Okinawa to Guam, but has linked their departure to progress on a new base in the north of the island - which many residents oppose. | The US says it is planning to relocate several thousand marines off Okinawa to Guam, but has linked their departure to progress on a new base in the north of the island - which many residents oppose. |
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