Charges dropped against 3 of 4 American military brats
An update on the case of the four American teens suspected of stringing a rope across a street and causing a traffic accident that nearly killed a Japanese motorcyclist:
Japanese prosecutors dropped cases Friday against three of the four American teens suspected of attempted murder, according to U.S. and Japanese officials.
The fourth case was referred to family court, which in Japan handles cases involving people 19 and younger. The family court judge has as long as eight weeks to decide whether to treat the suspect as a minor or refer the case back to the adult criminal justice system. No charges have been filed.
Also on Friday, Japanese officials released all four teens — a 15-year-old, two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old — to their parents, according to Air Force spokesman Maj. Christopher Watt. He said the families and military officials are continuing to cooperate in the case.
The 19-year-old, whom the other teens claimed was to blame for the incident, may face charges of “causing injury and obstruction of traffic,” rather than the attempted murder charges originally considered by Japanese authorities.
[via ROK Drop]
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