The Naha District Court in Okinawa on March 28 sentenced a U.S. Air Force sergeant to 32 months in prison for raping an Okinawan woman in June 2001.
Timothy Woodland of the U.S. Kadena Air Base was brought to trial for raping a woman last June in a parking lot in Okinawa's Chatan Town. In the court, he claimed that he had the consent of the woman. But the judge stated clearly, "The act of the defendant is nothing but assault. The victim received great physical and emotional damage."
Kuwae Teruko, a leader of a group working on Okinawan women's rights said, "The defendant deserves the sentence. Crimes like this can happen anywhere in Okinawa, and we Okinawan women have to live in fear and trembling. We must get rid of the U.S. bases as soon as possible."
The number of U.S. soldiers' crimes in Okinawa has been increasing for 3 years in a row. Last year, 72 U.S. soldiers and other military personnel were arrested in Okinawa for committing crimes.
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly called on the central government to revise the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which allows the U.S. to refuse to hand over U.S. service members suspected of crimes. But past foreign ministers have repeatedly stated that it is impossible to revise the SOFA.
Akahata of March 29 said that the government's subservient attitude to the United States has encouraged U.S. soldiers to commit crimes in Japan. (end)
http://www.japan-press.co.jp/2279/us.html
I agree with the last statement. I have already been through pretty much everthing else that was said.
Full Version: 32 Months In Prison For Rape
A racist rapist in Australia got sentenced to a 54 year prision term. That's effectively a life sentence. Non parole for 45 years I think.
Yeah... but isn't that case going back to court thanks to two smart @$$ jurors ???
But the sentence is still upheld. I don't think the fact that the jurors made a mistake will fundamentally change the sentence.
This is to give them lessons!
QUOTE
Two Sydney brothers convicted of a series of gang rapes are to face a retrial.
The Court of Criminal Appeal has quashed one of their convictions because of juror misconduct.
The State Government says it will explore every possible avenue to stop the alleged victim having to give evidence again.
In 2002 Bilal Skaf was sentenced to a record 55 years jail for a series of gang rapes.
His brother, Mohammed, was jailed for 32 years for his role in the attacks.
Now those sentences have been reduced by nine and eight years respectively because of juror misconduct.
It was revealed that two jurors, including the jury foreman, visited Gosling Park in Greenacre where the gang rape is alleged to have taken place.
The two men conducted basic tests on whether there was enough light for the alleged victim to identify her attackers.
The judges said they couldn't be satisfied that the jury's verdict wasn't affected by the unauthorised site visit: "In a criminal trial, guilt must be established beyond reasonable doubt based upon admissible evidence."
The decision means another stint in the witness stand for the young victim. For that the two jurors have earned the ire of the Opposition.
The Court of Criminal Appeal has quashed one of their convictions because of juror misconduct.
The State Government says it will explore every possible avenue to stop the alleged victim having to give evidence again.
In 2002 Bilal Skaf was sentenced to a record 55 years jail for a series of gang rapes.
His brother, Mohammed, was jailed for 32 years for his role in the attacks.
Now those sentences have been reduced by nine and eight years respectively because of juror misconduct.
It was revealed that two jurors, including the jury foreman, visited Gosling Park in Greenacre where the gang rape is alleged to have taken place.
The two men conducted basic tests on whether there was enough light for the alleged victim to identify her attackers.
The judges said they couldn't be satisfied that the jury's verdict wasn't affected by the unauthorised site visit: "In a criminal trial, guilt must be established beyond reasonable doubt based upon admissible evidence."
The decision means another stint in the witness stand for the young victim. For that the two jurors have earned the ire of the Opposition.
I guess they thought they were the Hardy Boys or something !
QUOTE (ngocie @ Jun 3 2004, 01:42 AM)
QUOTE
Two Sydney brothers convicted of a series of gang rapes are to face a retrial.
The Court of Criminal Appeal has quashed one of their convictions because of juror misconduct.
The State Government says it will explore every possible avenue to stop the alleged victim having to give evidence again.
In 2002 Bilal Skaf was sentenced to a record 55 years jail for a series of gang rapes.
His brother, Mohammed, was jailed for 32 years for his role in the attacks.
Now those sentences have been reduced by nine and eight years respectively because of juror misconduct.
It was revealed that two jurors, including the jury foreman, visited Gosling Park in Greenacre where the gang rape is alleged to have taken place.
The two men conducted basic tests on whether there was enough light for the alleged victim to identify her attackers.
The judges said they couldn't be satisfied that the jury's verdict wasn't affected by the unauthorised site visit: "In a criminal trial, guilt must be established beyond reasonable doubt based upon admissible evidence."
The decision means another stint in the witness stand for the young victim. For that the two jurors have earned the ire of the Opposition.
The Court of Criminal Appeal has quashed one of their convictions because of juror misconduct.
The State Government says it will explore every possible avenue to stop the alleged victim having to give evidence again.
In 2002 Bilal Skaf was sentenced to a record 55 years jail for a series of gang rapes.
His brother, Mohammed, was jailed for 32 years for his role in the attacks.
Now those sentences have been reduced by nine and eight years respectively because of juror misconduct.
It was revealed that two jurors, including the jury foreman, visited Gosling Park in Greenacre where the gang rape is alleged to have taken place.
The two men conducted basic tests on whether there was enough light for the alleged victim to identify her attackers.
The judges said they couldn't be satisfied that the jury's verdict wasn't affected by the unauthorised site visit: "In a criminal trial, guilt must be established beyond reasonable doubt based upon admissible evidence."
The decision means another stint in the witness stand for the young victim. For that the two jurors have earned the ire of the Opposition.
I guess they thought they were the Hardy Boys or something !
I'm currently doing criminal law as a supplement to my banking and finance degree and as far as I know, there is hardly a chance to quash the conviction. Looks like those jerks will be staying in there for a while.
At least the victims will have some feeling of justice and security !!! How much of that actual sentence will they serve anyway ?
QUOTE (ngocie @ Jun 3 2004, 01:50 AM)
At least the victims will have some feeling of justice and security !!! How much of that actual sentence will they serve anyway ?
I'm not sure but if my memory serves me then there's a 40-45 years non parole, which means no early release.
I think the judgment was harsh and racially motivated. On the other hand, the jerks' raping of the two Caucasians were racially motivated as well: "you like Lebanese c@cks"?
QUOTE (ngocie @ Jun 3 2004, 02:50 PM)
At least the victims will have some feeling of justice and security !!! How much of that actual sentence will they serve anyway ?
Right! I feel sad for the victim .
It may seem harsh, but these guys didn't seem to show any remorse. I recall reading somewhere that their dad tried to cover up for them by saying that they couldn't have done it because he was at home at the time. And trying to say that they were framed because of their nationality probably didn't help in their favour either.
They are at an age where they understand what is right and wrong. They chose to go ahead and rape those two girls. They had their pleasure and now it's time to pay for it.
They are at an age where they understand what is right and wrong. They chose to go ahead and rape those two girls. They had their pleasure and now it's time to pay for it.
Yes I totally agree. But to put myself in their situation, geez you wouldn't want to be confined to four walls for the rest of your life. I think it was rather hard but also neccessary as a lesson to other would be rapists.
Well, hopefully you won't be committing any rapes or other crimes to this extent in the future.
Maybe this will make others think before they act too !!!
For the ones serving the sentence, it's a case of not knowing what you have until it's gone... it's more than enough time in the cell to think on what they have done to themselves, the victims and their families.
Maybe this will make others think before they act too !!!
For the ones serving the sentence, it's a case of not knowing what you have until it's gone... it's more than enough time in the cell to think on what they have done to themselves, the victims and their families.
QUOTE (ngocie @ Jun 3 2004, 02:04 AM)
Well, hopefully you won't be committing any rapes or other crimes to this extent in the future.
Maybe this will make others think before they act too !!!
For the ones serving the sentence, it's a case of not knowing what you have until it's gone... it's more than enough time in the cell to think on what they have done to themselves, the victims and their families.
Maybe this will make others think before they act too !!!
For the ones serving the sentence, it's a case of not knowing what you have until it's gone... it's more than enough time in the cell to think on what they have done to themselves, the victims and their families.
There's an Asian saying that if you live, try not to go to court and if you die, try not going to hell.
QUOTE (Nam Quoc Son Ha @ Jun 3 2004, 01:14 AM)
A racist rapist in Australia got sentenced to a 54 year prision term. That's effectively a life sentence. Non parole for 45 years I think.
I believe every marine that commits a act of rape in japan should receive that setence. It should be a automatic and uniformed thing.
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