Fact Check: "Judge calls marine's attack 'vicious' after choking victim for one to two minutes"
What We Know
The claim in question refers to a recent sentencing of a U.S. Marine, Jamel Clayton, who was convicted of sexual assault in Japan. During the sentencing, the judge described the attack as "vicious" and highlighted the physical nature of the assault, which included choking the victim. According to reports, the judge emphasized the "life-threatening" aspects of the assault, which contributed to the severity of the sentence—seven years in prison (BBC, Stripes).
Analysis
The term "vicious" was indeed used by the judge to describe the nature of the attack. This description aligns with the facts presented during the trial, where the details of the assault were outlined, including the choking of the victim for a duration that was characterized as significant and dangerous (BBC, Stripes).
However, the claim that the judge specifically stated the victim was choked for "one to two minutes" is not substantiated by the available sources. While the judge's comments about the attack being "vicious" are confirmed, the exact duration of the choking was not explicitly mentioned in the sentencing reports (BBC, Stripes).
The sources reporting on the case, including reputable news outlets like the BBC and Stripes, are generally considered reliable. They provide detailed accounts of the court proceedings and the judge's remarks, which lend credibility to the assertion that the attack was described as vicious. However, the lack of specific mention regarding the choking duration suggests that the claim may be an extrapolation rather than a direct quote from the judge.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. While the judge did call the marine's attack "vicious," the specific claim that the victim was choked for "one to two minutes" is not supported by the evidence available. The absence of this detail in credible reports indicates that the claim may be misleading or inaccurately paraphrased.
