07 March 2008

Japan: A Witness Can Call It Off

Unlike here in the U.S. a victim in certain serious crimes (rape) can refuse to go forward and the prosecutor cannot press the charge.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

And how well does it work when the person who filed the complaint doesn't testify?

Anonymous said...

If there's evidence (DNA, e.g.) that this Marine had sex with a 14 year old, even without evidence that it was nonconsensual he can and should be prosecuted under the UCMJ and will do hard time. IIRC, it's called "carnal knowledge" rather than "statutory rape", but the rules and penalties are similar.