Report: U.S. sailor admits to killing

2 April 2008

Tokyo -A U.S. sailor being held by the U.S. military in Japan reportedly reportedly admitted Wednesday to killing a Japanese taxi driver.

The man was questioned by Japanese police in the death of 61-year-old Masaaki Takahashi, who was found March 19 in his cab with a kitchen knife stuck in the neck in Yokosuka, Kyodo news service reported quoting police sources.

The report said Japanese police planned to issue an arrest warrant for the suspect on murder and other charges.

The U.S. military has been holding the man on suspicion of desertion after he failed to return to the base since March 8, the report said.

The U.S. naval base is located in Yokosuka where Japanese investigators reportedly went to question the sailor in the presence of U.S. Navy officials.

Takahashi died on the night of March 19 after picking up his last customer at Tokyo's Shinagawa train station, the report said. The suspect was allegedly identified through a credit card left in the taxi, Kyodo said.