US Marine charged with murder of woman in Japan, sparking official protests from Tokyo

TOKYO — A U.S. marine was arrested on suspicion of killing and robbing a Japanese woman in Okinawa, officials said, prompting Tokyo to file a protest with the United States on Sunday.

Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is accused of murdering Anna Yagi, 39, on Saturday at a hotel, police told Japanese public broadcaster NHK. Ballard denied the allegations, a spokesperson said.