Okinawa rape accuser denies consent

Annette Eddie-Callagain, attorney for U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Woodland, is surrounded by reporters after the second session of the trial at Naha in Japan

NAHA, Japan - A Japanese woman who claims to have been raped a U.S. Air Force sergeant denied that she consented to a sexual act and stressed that she "resisted."

Testifying before the Naha District Court through a video link-up, the 20-year old woman denied she agreed to have sex with the officer.

She said she hoped that he would be sent to prison so that she will "never have to see him again."

The woman, whose name has been withheld, testified by a video link-up so that she would not have to face the defendant.

Only the panel of three judges and the lawyers for both sides were able to see her during the course of the trial.

She has accused Timothy Woodland, a staff sergeant stationed at Okinawa's Kadena Air Base, of raping her in a parking lot outside a popular nightclub on June 29.

'Consent'

Woodland, 24, has admitted to having sex with her, but claims it was an act of mutual consent.

"I resisted," the woman told the Naha District Court.

Woodland is being tried at the Naha District Court because the crime allegedly occurred off-base and under Japanese jurisdiction.

If convicted, he faces a minimum of two years in prison.

"All I want is to keep him in prison so that I never have to see him again," the woman said.

Woodland sat silently throughout his accusers testimony, The Associated Press reported.

Local sensitivities

It was the second session of the trial which began last month amid heavy local media interest.

Local residents have been extremely sensitive over crimes committed by military personnel.

In the past, the rape of a local schoolgirl by three American servicemen in 1995 sparked huge protests.

Although the Woodland case has not created a similar uproar, sensitivities continue to be high.

More than half of the nearly 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan are deployed to Okinawa.

But U.S. military officials claimed that most of the troops here are law abiding.

Cross-examination of the woman was scheduled for October 22, while closing arguments are slated for February 12.