TOKYO — A 20-year-old US Marine stationed in Japan was indicted Sunday on charges of robbing and murdering a woman in Okinawa prefecture earlier this month, intensifying public anger over crimes involving American military personnel.Devin Ballard, who was stationed at Futenma Air Base, was charged with killing the woman by wrapping a telephone cord around her neck at a hotel in Naha, Okinawa’s capital, on October 3, according to Tokyo-based Kyodo News.Police located Ballard walking alone in Okinawa city late on October 3 and arrested him the following day on suspicion of robbery and murder.The indictment has renewed concerns among Okinawa residents over the presence of US military installations and previous criminal cases involving American service members.Okinawa Governor Genta Koja called on Japan’s central government to strengthen preventive measures following the incident.Residents have repeatedly raised concerns about crimes involving US military personnel, including offenses against women and girls, as well as noise and environmental pollution associated with military bases.The Japanese government lodged a strong protest with Washington, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the killing as a “heinous crime.”Tokyo also urged the United States to cooperate fully with the investigation and enforce stricter discipline among American military personnel stationed in Japan.Following Ballard’s arrest, the US military in Okinawa imposed a 30-day curfew on October 9, restricting personnel from leaving their bases between midnight and 5 a.m.Washington and Tokyo have also initiated discussions on additional preventive measures, including a review of the effectiveness of the US military’s “liberty policy,” which regulates off-base conduct.The discussions also include possible joint patrols involving US military personnel and Japanese police to strengthen security and prevent further incidents.TOKYO — A 20-year-old US Marine stationed in Japan was indicted Sunday on charges of robbing and murdering a woman in Okinawa prefecture earlier this month, intensifying public anger over crimes involving American military personnel.Devin Ballard, who was stationed at Futenma Air Base, was charged with killing the woman by wrapping a telephone cord around her neck at a hotel in Naha, Okinawa’s capital, on October 3, according to Tokyo-based Kyodo News.Police located Ballard walking alone in Okinawa city late on October 3 and arrested him the following day on suspicion of robbery and murder.The indictment has renewed concerns among Okinawa residents over the presence of US military installations and previous criminal cases involving American service members.Okinawa Governor Genta Koja called on Japan’s central government to strengthen preventive measures following the incident.Residents have repeatedly raised concerns about crimes involving US military personnel, including offenses against women and girls, as well as noise and environmental pollution associated with military bases.The Japanese government lodged a strong protest with Washington, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the killing as a “heinous crime.”Tokyo also urged the United States to cooperate fully with the investigation and enforce stricter discipline among American military personnel stationed in Japan.Following Ballard’s arrest, the US military in Okinawa imposed a 30-day curfew on October 9, restricting personnel from leaving their bases between midnight and 5 a.m.Washington and Tokyo have also initiated discussions on additional preventive measures, including a review of the effectiveness of the US military’s “liberty policy,” which regulates off-base conduct.The discussions also include possible joint patrols involving US military personnel and Japanese police to strengthen security and prevent further incidents.
US Marine indicted for robbery and murder of woman in Japan's Okinawa
