Japanese prosecutors indicted a U.S. Marine over the death of a woman in Okinawa
Japanese prosecutors indicted Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, on charges over the Oct. 3 death of 39-year-old Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha, Okinawa, Japanese media reported. Ballard has denied the allegations. The case sparked protests, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called for stricter discipline of U.S. personnel.
More context
Japanese prosecutors have indicted a U.S. Marine on charges over the death of a 39-year-old woman in Okinawa, Japanese media reported. Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, is accused of strangling Anna Yagi with a telephone cord at a hotel in Naha on Oct. 3 and stealing her backpack and wallet. Ballard has denied the allegations. The case has prompted protests and renewed anger over the U.S. military presence in Okinawa. Okinawa Governor Genta Koja said the prefecture had repeatedly urged the U.S. to prevent such incidents, and described the alleged crime as a sign of a lack of discipline. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the incident as “brutal and heinous” and called for stricter discipline of U.S. personnel.
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Reporting
- The Times of India — US Marine indicted for murder of Japanese woman, protests erupt
- BBC News — US Marine indicted for murder and robbery of woman in Japan - BBC News
- The Independent — US Marine indicted for ‘strangling woman with telephone wire and robbing her’ | The Independent
- KSL News — US Marine indicted over alleged murder of woman in Okinawa | KSL.com
- New York Post — Japan indicts US Marine Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard over Okinawa killing, media say
- ABC News (Australia) — US marine charged over Japanese woman's murder after body found in hotel room - ABC News
- Washington Examiner — Japan indicts US Marine charged with killing woman in Okinawa
Verifier’s note
The Times of India, BBC News, The Independent, KSL.com, the New York Post, ABC News, and the Washington Examiner report that Devin Jacob Ballard was indicted in Japan for the woman's murder and robbery. These are current reports of the same event; the Japan Times result discusses alleged involvement but does not report the indictment.