It ha ened back in November in the Phili ines. A woman, called by the eudonym Nicole, was allegedly
It ha ened back in November in the Phili ines. A woman, called by the eudonym Nicole, was allegedly raped by four U.S. Marines. The trial for this incident is now six weeks long, and Nicole has taken the stand. The defendants are Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, Lance Cpl. Dominic Duplantis, Lance Cpl. Keith Silkwood and Staff Sgt. Chad Carpentier. It is alleged that Smith raped Nicole while the other three U.S. Marines watched and cheered.
The events that led up to the alleged rape started back in November. One night the 22-year-old Nicole was drinking with the four U.S. Marines. According to eye witne es, Nicole was eventually carried out of the bar on the back of Smith. Later, according to witne es, the Marines took Nicoles half-naked body out of their van and dumped her on the sidewalklike garbage. According to Dr. Rolando Ortiz II, Nicole had bruises on her arms, legs and genital area, which were co istent with sexual a ault.
Nicoles ste ister also testified that a Filipino man offered them money not to pursue the case. The man did not state whom he represented. Even though the Marines are confined to the U.S. Emba y in Manila, they still managed to get on TV. Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier told a Phili ine TV station that Nicole was being manipulated to accuse the servicemen. He also said that shes a victim, but not a victim of us, shes a victim of some of the people surrounding her.
Currently the U.S. emba y has custody of the Marines. As part of the treaty, the men must be triedand proceedings concludedwithin on year. A arently, the ages and hometow of the men in question have not yet been released. What is known is this. The men were part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Force that was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. While the case fueled anti-American protests, these protests are nothing new for the area.
Its been reported that Nicole broke down in tears when she took the stand. In fact, the judge ordered a breakshe was not even up to the rape part of the testimony. Its worth noting that the Marines did not enter a plea. They remained silent. As such, the judge was forced to enter a plea of i ocence on their behalf. A arently, the charge carries a prison sentence of up to 40 years.
The defe e is not denying that Nicole and Smith had sex, rather they are claiming that it was co e ual. This still does not explain the eye witne testimony of the Marines dumping her half-naked body on the sidewalk. The defendants were in the county for counterterrorism training. If found guilty, they will be in the Phili ines for an extended stay.
The events that led up to the alleged rape started back in November. One night the 22-year-old Nicole was drinking with the four U.S. Marines. According to eye witne es, Nicole was eventually carried out of the bar on the back of Smith. Later, according to witne es, the Marines took Nicoles half-naked body out of their van and dumped her on the sidewalklike garbage. According to Dr. Rolando Ortiz II, Nicole had bruises on her arms, legs and genital area, which were co istent with sexual a ault.
Nicoles ste ister also testified that a Filipino man offered them money not to pursue the case. The man did not state whom he represented. Even though the Marines are confined to the U.S. Emba y in Manila, they still managed to get on TV. Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier told a Phili ine TV station that Nicole was being manipulated to accuse the servicemen. He also said that shes a victim, but not a victim of us, shes a victim of some of the people surrounding her.
Currently the U.S. emba y has custody of the Marines. As part of the treaty, the men must be triedand proceedings concludedwithin on year. A arently, the ages and hometow of the men in question have not yet been released. What is known is this. The men were part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Force that was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. While the case fueled anti-American protests, these protests are nothing new for the area.
Its been reported that Nicole broke down in tears when she took the stand. In fact, the judge ordered a breakshe was not even up to the rape part of the testimony. Its worth noting that the Marines did not enter a plea. They remained silent. As such, the judge was forced to enter a plea of i ocence on their behalf. A arently, the charge carries a prison sentence of up to 40 years.
The defe e is not denying that Nicole and Smith had sex, rather they are claiming that it was co e ual. This still does not explain the eye witne testimony of the Marines dumping her half-naked body on the sidewalk. The defendants were in the county for counterterrorism training. If found guilty, they will be in the Phili ines for an extended stay.
