Overview
- The Naha District Court opened the first trial for PFC Austin Wedington, 28, who pleaded not guilty to charges of non-consensual intercourse and injury tied to a March 18 incident inside a U.S. base restroom.
- Wedington told the court he did not remember the events, while his attorney said the defense will concede some use of force but contest the allegation that intercourse occurred.
- An unusual divergence between the defendant and his lawyer led to a brief in-court consultation as their positions differed on key points.
- Prosecutors alleged he strangled a base employee, pinned her against the stall door, and then assaulted a woman who intervened by stepping on her face, causing a facial contusion and a cervical sprain with an estimated three-day recovery.
- Prosecutors also said he scaled a wall to enter the single-stall toilet and covered the first woman’s mouth as she cried for help, and the next court date has not yet been set as scheduling is being coordinated.