As trial begins, Kitty Hawk sailor admits he killed Yokosuka woman

[saigon68]

As trial begins, Kitty Hawk sailor admits he killed Yokosuka woman






By Allison Batdorff and Hana Kusumoto, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, March 19, 2006

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?article=35825§ion=104

YOKOHAMA, Japan — The robbery-murder trial of USS Kitty Hawk Airman William Oliver Reese Jr. opened Friday with the sailor, head bowed, admitting he killed 56-year-old Yoshie Sato.

With several relatives of the savagely beaten Yokosuka woman in the crowded Yokosuka District Court courtroom, prosecutors played a surveillance video from near the Yokosuka City crime scene. On it were the sounds of the victim’s screams and a voice with an American accent demanding, “Money!”

Sato’s brother, Shuichi Sanada, said it was the first time family members had seen the video. Several began crying.


When Sato pointed to show him, Honda said, Reese grabbed her bag and she resisted. The prosecutor said Reese punched Sato in the face and dragged her into a nearby building “to get her to stop screaming for help.” Reese threw Sato against a cement wall as hard as he could, Honda said, “then he stomped on her belly and face a number of times.”

[Judi Lynn]

1. This is so sad. Why would anyone want to do this?

From the article:

Sato died in a local hospital a few hours later with a ruptured right kidney and liver.

Reese took 15,000 yen (about $130) from Sato’s purse, washed his hands in a nearby convenience store bathroom and returned to Yokosuka Naval Base to work, Honda said.

“He spent the money on sex-show entertainment and drinks at the bar,” she said.
(snip/...)

She lost her life over this. Jeezus.

Pity Americans are taught such disregard for everyone else.

[Eric J in MN]

2. If he did the same thing in Iraq, he probalby wouldn't be tried in

Iraqi court.

Paul Bremer put a clause in Iraqi law exaempting US soldiers and mercenaries from Iraqi law for anything they do while carrying out official duties.

[MADem]

3. Way to project the American image overseas

What an asshole. An unmitigated asshole. At least the State Department released him to Japanese courts. It will send an interesting message if the guy gets the death penalty in Japan, which the family members want:

“He should pay for his crime with his own life,” Sanada said. “My sister died at 56, in the middle of fulfilling her ambition. Though Reese is only 21, I wish his life ended.”

Capital punishment is the maximum penalty for murder on the occasion of robbery.

Even if he goes to jail, Japanese prisons aren't the "Fight Clubs" that American prisons are. TV? Fuggedaboutit! Personal items? Fuggedaboutit!! Mandatory work--absolutely! Mandatory exercise--absolutely! No TALKING--YEP! The idea is to stew in the repentence for your crime, not make new friends...

Here's one Marine's account of Japanese prisons--they DON'T play around there: http://www.prisonactivist.org/pipermail/prisonact-list/2004-July/009223.html

[Bzzzz]

4. They experienced nothing...

compared to what they put that little 12 yr old thru...

[MADem]

5. Oh, I have no sympathy for the idiots that commit crimes of this nature

The only reason that there aren't more simple 'drunk and disorderly' charges is because the Japanese police are very effective at stopping that crap in the bar districts frequented by Americans--they have these mini-batons, and they can put a guy twice their size and in peak physical condition on his knees in twenty seconds with a few well-placed thwacks. The problems arise when the drunken jerks roam outside the "usual haunts" and away from the watchful eyes of the cops, or get involved with local nationals and take advantage of their cultural propensity towards politeness.

It just seems that, in Japan, when the crime is violent, it more often than not has a real heinousness attached to it. Raping little kids, killing a middle aged woman for just enough yen for a half night out, slicing the neck of a cabbie from ear to ear for the little change money he had...it's humiliating to the rest of the people who go over there and try to be pleasant guests of the nation.

I've seen the inside of a Japanese prison--not as an inmate, mind you, but as a command visitor. It's rather fierce, to put it mildly. It's the sort of place that you WOULD like to see your worst enemy in.

[enlightenment]

7. In 1971 (72? the mind goes) I was living in Japan

-- an AF brat. An airman, high on something, went to a small hotel where the contract airline crews stayed (Braniff used to fly contract for the military). It was right off base from Yokota. He went inside the place, broke into a flight attendant's room, assaulted her and then dragged her outside. He sat on the stone steps, holding her across his legs with a large butcher knife at her throat.
It was a Japanese matter, since they were off base -- the police resolved it with no blood shed (amazing what you can do when you don't go in guns blazing). He got life for the rape and assault -- as far as I know he's still in prison.

Unfortunately, Americans have been "projecting their image" for years.

Still, I felt sorry for him (and her) -- there were so many damaged people over there at the time.

[MADem]

8. Wow, how horrid!

Funny, though, they didn't hate us so much back then. Of course, we seemed to be better at apologizing and taking responsibility in those days, too. It just seems that everywhere we go, nowadays, we crap on the hospitality of our hosts. We're UGLY AMERICANS again. It's just so regrettable.

I have to wonder if it is the declining quality of the 'All Volunteer Force' (read: ignorant bastards who cannot find a job), a failure of guidance, discipline and country orientation on the part of military leadership, or a larger societal issue. They seem more worried about off base dress codes, and less concerned about being a good overseas ambassador these days.

In any event, it is unfortunate.

[saigon68]

9. Your view of the "All Volunteer Force" is on the money

A lot of them are more typical of the Guys who helped anally rape children

And who had their Police dogs lick peanut butter off the genitals of POWs

[MADem]

10. It is so sad, really, because there was a bright and shining moment

...when I could look at my young, fresh-faced subordinates, and say to myself, with all honesty, humility, and no small amount of chagrin, that they were way the fuck better than I was at that same age and stage in my career.

That ain't the case, these days--by comparison, I was friken Patton, Ike, Nimitz and Washington combined, buzzed up in the blender and poured out with a charming garnish, as the main course! Pssssssst! OWCH! Hot!!! Can't touch this!!!

There was a brief period in the Services, when the AVF took hold, the recruiting requirements were low in terms of numbers, and very high in terms of quality, that we were getting some top-notch assets.

That ain't the case anymore. The good ones have bailed...fled as soon as they could, and I do not blame them.

It's like the friken Turkish Army nowadays--flat out lousy, in need of constant guidance and close supervision, brutal discipline the order of the day.

It's not the way to do it.

[saigon68]

11. You and I have disagreed in the past here

I know a lot of good troopers. My nephew is one. He is a company commander.

He says the quality of the recruits is pitiful

My business partner is a Lt. Col in the reserves, and SHE is a Battalion Commander

She is appalled by the new replacements. It is from her I heard the comment "The recruiters are picking the low hanging fruit".

Lynndie England, Graner, Harrmann and all their rest are typical of what's out there to recruit. They are not BAD people-- They are like children who do mischief. Except that when you are carrying an M-60, mischief becomes deadly.

They fall into crime and they cause War Crimes

I don't "Hate the Troops" I am appalled that the NCOs and Officers are such lousy leaders.

And the system that gives Col. Pappas a free ride yet punishes the "leash lady"


Just sick

[MADem]

13. Indeed, leadership is THE vital part of the equation

It's an investment, of time, energy, and caring, but it is one that pays dividends downstream. Even a 'quality' recruit can take the wrong path if there is no stewardship of the career development going on in the supervisory ranks.

And I am on the same page that you are on--it does seem, nowadays, that responsibility can be conveniently ignored for political reasons and land squarely on the shoulders of the ones with the least authority in the pecking order--skip over the three star, and burn the E-3.

It's bullshit. The fish rots from the head.

[depakid]

12. Not exactly hard labor

8 hours a day making cell phones and autoparts....

[MADem]

14. It's not an air conditioned, sit down job, like answering phones

And most importantly, it is not voluntary.

That is not a 'walk in the park' environment by any stretch. It's highly structured and discipline is enforced.

[wicket]

6. Absolutely horrible

:cry: