Lawyers for a U.S. Marine Corps major accused of attempted rape said Thursday the case should be transferred to the United States.
At the first session of the trial before the Naha District Court, the defense team for Maj. Michael Brown, 40, also said the court decision should be based not only on Japanese law but also on the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and the U.S. Constitution.
The case drew public attention when the U.S. turned down Japan's request that Brown be handed over before his indictment.
The indictment came Dec. 19 over the attempted rape of a Philippine woman in her car Nov. 2 in the city of Gushikawa.