Japan indicts U.S. Marine on murder charge in Okinawa woman's death

Japanese prosecutors have indicted a U.S. Marine on suspicion of murdering a woman on Okinawa, according to a court spokesman cited by CBS News.

Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, stationed at Futenma Air Station, was arrested on suspicion of strangling 39-year-old Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha, the island's capital, Okinawa prefectural police said.

The indictment alleges that Ballard strangled Yagi with a telephone cord on October 3 and stole her backpack containing a wallet and other belongings, reported The Yomiuri Shimbun.

The Marine initially denied the allegations but later made statements implying some involvement, according to investigative sources cited by Japanese media.

The case has reignited controversy over the U.S. military presence on Okinawa, with Japan's premier condemning the crime and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announcing a review of the off-base conduct rules for U.S. troops in Japan.

Motegi said high-level talks with the United States will examine the effectiveness of current policies on off-duty conduct, patrols, and curfew management for U.S. military personnel.