U.S. Marine charged with murder of Okinawa woman

Naha prosecutors charged 20-year-old U.S. Marine Devin Ballard, serving at Futenma Air Base, with robbery and murder of a woman in the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, according to Kyodo.

According to the prosecution, on October 3, he wrapped the woman’s neck with a phone cord and strangled her, after which he took a backpack with a purse.

Late that afternoon, police found Ballard as he was walking around the city. The next day, the Marine was arrested on suspicion of robbery and murder.

“In the trial, we want to do everything possible to accurately state the arguments and prove the case based on the law and evidence,” said Deputy Head of the District Attorney’s Office Nahi Hiroya Ishii.

After Ballard’s arrest, the Japanese Ministry of Defense expressed a strong protest to the United States. Secretary of State Shinjiro Koizumi said incidents involving U.S. military personnel were of great concern to local residents and "should never happen.".

After the arrest of the Marine, the command of the US Armed Forces in Okinawa imposed a month-long curfew. Prior to its introduction, U.S. servicemen were assigned two days of mandatory training in rules of conduct and discipline. During the month, they are forbidden to be outside the bases and drink alcohol from 00:00 to 05:00.