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US sailor gets life in Japan
02/06/2006 18:17 - (SA)
Tokyo - A United States sailor was sentenced to life in prison by a Japanese court on Friday, for beating a local woman to death.
Seaman William Reese, 22, from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, kicked and beat Yoshie Sato, 56, to death on January 3.
The case has further strained feelings over the presence of the US military in Japan.
Reese is the first US serviceman handed over to Japanese police by the US military to face a murder indictment.
Judge Masazo Ogura from the Yokohoma district court said: "(Reese) beat the victim for 10 minutes until she was unable to move, in (a case of) serious brutality. It was an extremely vicious crime."
Reese admitted beating Sato to death but said he did not intend to kill her.
He reportedly told investigators he wanted money for drinks after going out with colleagues to a nearby bar.
He stole 15 000 yen (about R870) from her purse.
The commander of the US naval forces in Japan, Rear Admiral James Kelly, offered a renewed apology to the victim's family and friends, as well as the people of Japan: "While the sentencing represents an end to the judicial process, I know that this terrible tragedy has created emotional wounds for many which time may never heal.
"I reaffirm my commitment to you ... to make every effort to ensure a tragedy like this is never repeated."
Under an accord between the two allies, the US military is not required to hand over suspects unless they are charged.
But after three US marines raped a 12-year-old girl in Okinawa in 1995, the US agreed to look favourably on requests for a transfer of custody in cases of serious crime.
Japanese defence facilities administration agency chief Iwao Kitahara urged the US military to enforce strict discipline among its troops: "Such an incident should never happen again, and it's really regrettable.
"We strongly urge the US forces to enforce discipline and take preventive measures."
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