The case concerns Anna Yagi’s death at a hotel in Okinawa, home to Japan’s largest concentration of US troops. Japan says it has formally protested to the US and demanded measures to prevent further incidents.
Japanese prosecutors have indicted US Marine Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, on charges of murdering and robbing Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in Naha, Okinawa, on 3 October, the BBC said on 26 October, citing Japanese media accounts of the indictment. The Guardian said the killing also prompted restrictions on US military members stationed in Okinawa.
Ballard was stationed at US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Okinawa hosts the highest concentration of the roughly 55,000 US troops stationed in Japan, and previous criminal cases involving US service members there have prompted protests.
A curfew and alcohol ban were imposed on US military members stationed in Okinawa following Yagi’s killing. About 100 people protested in Naha and Tokyo in October over her death.
Ballard was arrested on 4 October and indicted on 25 October. Prosecutors allege that he strangled Yagi with a telephone cord and stole her backpack and wallet. He reportedly denies the charges.
NHK said Ballard told police he knew nothing about the killing. Japanese media also cited investigators as saying he later made statements suggesting involvement.
In October, the Marine Corps said it was actively cooperating with Japanese authorities over allegations of serious criminal actions by a Marine and extended condolences to Yagi’s family.
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