Posted on 02/29/2008 9:17:22 AM PST by SmithL
TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- A U.S. Marine who was accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in southern Japan has been released after prosecutors dropped the charges at the teenager's request, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.
Staff Sgt. Tyrone Luther Hadnott, 38, was arrested on Feb. 10 on suspicion of raping the girl on the southern island of Okinawa, fueling nationwide furor over crimes involving American troops in Japan.
Hadnott was released Friday night after the girl withdrew her criminal complaint against him, said Ryo Fukahori, a Foreign Ministry official in charge of Japan-U.S. security. Rape charges in Japan can be filed only with a victim's complaint.
Fukahori said the rape charges could be separately pursued by the U.S. military. Phone calls to the Marine Corps on Okinawa went unanswered, and the U.S. consulate said it had no immediate comment.
State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters Friday that the United States remains "very concerned about this incident" and has "great sympathies" for the girl and her family.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
WHAT THE....!!!! After months of raking this guy over the coals in the “media?” I thought the “media” and everyone posting on the internet said this guy was guilty! They had me convinced! This is flatout freaky.
He still may be guilty, just no charges
We will never know if he’s guilty or not.
The girl decided to drop the charges.
WHY would she drop the charges??
Because court appearances may be psychologically excruciating?
Because she fears that her whole life will be put under scrutiny by the defense?
Thankfully most FReepers held back and wanted more info before convicting this Marine.
While forcing a kiss from the girl is not right, it is a far cry from rape. Of course we don’t know the whole story on that yet either.
My question exactly. I wasn't being sarcastic with my post. I was serious. When something happens that causes an "uproar," I'd like to see something more than the court dropping the charges.
If the standard of proof is the same one the Japaneses want to use regarding the rapes of Nanking, it would be pretty hard to get a conviction; and I am not saying this guy did anything.
Not if the girl won't testify.
Having actual live witnesses, a crime scene of any sort, or testimony other than simple rumor is no longer required for the prosecution of US Marines.
After months of raking this guy over the coals in the “media?” ..
He was arrested only 3 weeks ago.
The way the naval attorneys’ office have been behaving, they’ll probably pursue it anyway. Consider Haditha.
Whether he was guilty or innocent, and it now sounds as if innocent is more likely, I think the Japanese government behaved badly over this. You don’t publicly attack an ally for something that could happen any time, any where, and which was already in process of being taken care of.
It would be another matter if the US was stonewalling and refusing to investigate, but they were not. This kind of political troublemaking and riot baiting is inexcusable, IMHO. It leaves a bad taste that won’t go away.
they found her myspace page?
Because all of a sudden, she won a lotto???
did the ‘put a little ice on it’ mantra he used, make it all better?
Oh wait, sorry that was Bill Clinton.
Nevermind.
moron
You have a problem recognizing sarcasm?
Do you know how the Japanese legal system works? What are the rules of evidence? Can the defense conduct itself as you suggest? Are you speculating by chance?
Japanese law works largely on a code-based ssytem like the French system. Cases are decided by judges, not juries. Under the code system the defense and the prosecution can present any evidence they like for the judge's consideration and he may choose to accept or reject any submitted evidence. He also is the one who does almost all of the witness examination.
Sarchasm: The gulf between the creator of sarcastic wit and the person that doesn’t get it.
Me thinks she was a very willing party.
The Japanese legal system is much less adversarial than the American one. The judge has almost total control of the process, and the lawyers have very little power. The process is much quieter than ours.
IF the charges are false, then she should be punished.
With “Paid Dating” with High School girls available in Japan for a modest fee and being socially permitted I don’t see this as a likely true rape ,, most likely a prostitute that felt underpaid... I used to work nights and you heard “rape” police calls on the scanner all the time where a prostitute suddenly had amnesia after being paid..
General to reassess Okinawa restrictions on March 3
Lt. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer has decided to continue a “period of reflection” that has all SOFA-status personnel on the island restricted to the bases and off-base homes.
WTF?
The military can still prosecute him for soliciting, which is now illegal in the US military.
A rash of recent incidents, including the alleged rape, led to the lockdown. My guess is that Monday the lockdown will be dropped and a new curfew will take effect.
I’m ready for some sushi and soba.
You did read the part where it lists the girl as being 14 years old right? Willing or not, he is the adult and she is not.
Good to hear from you. I was hoping you were still there - not that I meant I hoped you were under house arrest;-)
He claimed all he did is kiss her. So I am not sure there was any sex. It did sound like he was looking for sex from her from the article I read in the middle of last month.
I have no idea if the Navy can prosecute him for seeking sex from her. I don’t know if she is underage by Japanese law. I am not sure if attempted statutory rape is a crime under any law?
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