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World War II Pacific Theater Case Synopses from Judge Advocate's Reviews Yokohama Class B and C War Crimes Trials

Defendant: Ikeda, Yoshiyuki, civilian employee, Japanese Army

Docket No./ Date: 30/ May 6, 1946, Yokohama, Japan

Charge: 1. Committed cruel and inhuman acts and other offenses against POWs

Specifications:

Verdict: 15 years confinement at hard labor/ Sentence Upheld

Reviewing Authority's Recommendations: Superior orders not a defense but could be used to mitigate punishment. However, prosecution's evidence showed that the prisoner was not telling the truth in this regard.

Reviewing Authority: James A. Byrum, 1st Lieutenant, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate

Prosecution Arguments:

Defense Arguments: 1. Did not beat any prisoners on his own. 2. Superior orders - struck prisoners on the buttocks by instructioin of the camp commander. 3. Treated prisoners well

Judge Advocate's Recommendations:



Child Testifying in Court in Manila.
Photo: U.S. Army, courtesy of Bob Harmon

The trial records of Japanese War Criminals Tried at Yokohama, Japan, between 1946 and 1949 is broken into 2 sets:

  1. 59 reels - Records of Trials and Clemency Petitions for Accused Japanese War Criminals Tried at Yokohama, Japan (1946-1948)
  2. 5 reels - Reviews of the Yokohama Class B and C war crimes Trials by the 8th Army judge Advocate (1946-1949)

The following is a summary of the corresponding case found in the latter group (5-reel set of Judge Advocate's Reviews). Analysis Prepared by Stella Lee Researcher, War Crimes Studies Center


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