2 U.S. Marines ordered to pay damages over 2008 taxi driver assault

A Japanese court on Thursday ordered two U.S. Marines to pay 26.42 million yen ($239,000) in total damages to the family of a deceased taxi driver in Okinawa Prefecture for not paying compensation due over an assault during a cab incident in 2008.The figure determined by the Naha District Court almost matches the 27 million yen sought by the family members of Munekazu Ura. The U.S. Marines did not appear in court to defend themselves.According to the complaint, the two Marines -- who were stationed at U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in the city of Ginowan -- beat Ura on the head with …READ FULL ARTICLE