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US marine given 40 years for rape | US marine given 40 years for rape |
(30 minutes later) | |
A US marine has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for raping a local woman in the Philippines last year. | A US marine has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for raping a local woman in the Philippines last year. |
The sentence was handed down to Lance Corporal Daniel Smith in a Manila courtroom for the rape of the woman in a van at a former US navy base. | The sentence was handed down to Lance Corporal Daniel Smith in a Manila courtroom for the rape of the woman in a van at a former US navy base. |
Three other defendants, Lance Corporals Keith Silkwood and Dominic Duplantis and Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier, were all cleared of rape. | Three other defendants, Lance Corporals Keith Silkwood and Dominic Duplantis and Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier, were all cleared of rape. |
The case had sparked strong protests from women's and left-wing groups. | |
About 100 protesters were outside the courthouse for the verdict. | |
They sang the nationalist song My Country and called for the end of the Visiting Forces Agreement that covers the use of overseas troops in training exercises. | |
Damages | |
The attack took place at the former US naval base of Subic Bay, west of Manila, in November last year. | The attack took place at the former US naval base of Subic Bay, west of Manila, in November last year. |
Smith, 21, from St Louis, Missouri, had said the sex was consensual. | |
Smith said the sex was consensualBut Judge Benjamin Pozon said the woman was so drunk she could not have consented to sex. | |
He said the length of the sentence was aimed at "protecting women against the unbridled bestiality of persons who cannot control their libidinous proclivity". | |
Smith was also ordered to pay the defendant 100,000 pesos ($2,000) in damages. | |
The marines had been held in custody at the US embassy, after the US refused to hand them over until the end of the trial. | The marines had been held in custody at the US embassy, after the US refused to hand them over until the end of the trial. |
The defendants were stationed in Okinawa, Japan, but had just finished manoeuvres in the Philippines when the attack occurred. | The defendants were stationed in Okinawa, Japan, but had just finished manoeuvres in the Philippines when the attack occurred. |
The case created strong emotions in the Philippines, with protesters often appearing at the courtroom. | |
They had held placards including the phrases "Justice for Nicole," "Jail the Yankees," and "Rage Against Rape". | |
Nicole was the pseudonym given to the victim, now 23, in the case. |
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