Ex-U.S. base worker denies intent to kill Okinawa woman

A former U.S. civilian base worker accused of raping and killing a 20-year-old woman in Okinawa in April last year denied intent to murder on Thursday at the opening of his lay judge trial.Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, 33, however, admitted at the Naha District Court to the charges of rape resulting in death and abandoning the victim's body.The murder case has sparked public anger and strengthened anti-U.S. base sentiment in Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan and has seen a spate of crimes committed by American troops or military-linked personnel.According to th…READ FULL ARTICLE