Accuser testifies against four Iwakuni Marines accused of rape

[unhappycamper]

Accuser testifies against four Iwakuni Marines accused of rape
By Travis J. Tritten, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, February 16, 2008

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan — A Japanese woman testified Thursday that four Iwakuni Marines kidnapped and took turns raping her in a van during a night out in Hiroshima in October.

The 20-year-old woman was the first witness in a pretrial investigation into whether the men will face courts-martial for the alleged gang rape.

Gunny Sgt. Carl M. Anderson, Gunny Sgt. Jarvis D. Raynor, Sgt. Lanaeus J. Braswell and Lance Cpl. Larry A. Dean are charged with various crimes including rape, conspiracy and kidnapping and have been confined on base since the allegations surfaced in October.

A defense attorney said during the opening day of the Article 32 hearing that the alleged victim admitted to having consensual sex with one of the Marines on Oct. 14 after lying repeatedly about it to Japanese police and prosecutors.

Japanese authorities decided in November not to pursue charges in the case. The four were turned over to U.S. military officials and have remained in custody awaiting the Article 32, officials said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52508