Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy Times

Japan wants to question sailor about killing

TOKYO — Authorities in Japan have asked the U.S. military for permission to question an American sailor about the killing of a Japanese taxi driver, officials said Sunday.

A prefectural (state) police spokesman said police were waiting for the U.S. military’s response to their request to talk with the sailor, who was apprehended by Navy investigative officers Saturday in downtown Tokyo. The police official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing policy.

Japanese and U.S. authorities believe the sailor has information about the fatal stabbing of a 61-year-old tax driver last week in Yokosuka, just south of Tokyo, because a credit card with the sailor’s name was found in the victim’s car.

Rear Adm. James Kelly, commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Japan, promised to cooperate with the Japanese police if asked.

“I promise you all, I ensure you all, full support of the United States Navy as far as the investigation is being conducted by either the Kanagawa police or the city of Yokosuka police,” Kelly said Sunday in comments televised by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK.

During questioning by U.S. investigators the sailor denied allegations of killing the driver, Japanese media reported Sunday.

Navy spokesman Cmdr. David Waterman refused to confirm the report, saying the man has not been named a formal suspect in the killing.

“He is being detained for desertion. I don’t know what the investigative officers are questioning him [about],” Waterman said.

He said Japan had not yet asked to visit the base to question the sailor or asked for him to be handed over to Japanese police.

The name, age, nationality and other details about the sailor — a crew member of the cruiser Cowpens based at Yokosuka — were not released for privacy reasons, Waterman said.

The case comes as public anger over the U.S. military presence in Japan is mounting, with American troops facing a series of allegations ranging from rape to drunk driving. The outrage has prompted the military to impose restrictions on the 50,000 U.S. servicemen stationed in Japan.