M29
Morotai Trial M29 was an Australian war crimes trial conducted on Morotai between 6 and 7 February 1946. The case concerned the death of Royal Australian Air Force airman Orgill following his capture after his aircraft was shot down near Tomohon in the closing months of the Second World War. Corporal Baba Hidetoshi of the 8th Field Military Police was charged in connection with the death.
The prosecution alleged that one of the captured airmen attempted to seize a guard's bayonet while under escort and was severely beaten by a Japanese guard, later dying from his injuries. The case against Corporal Baba relied on a combination of oral testimony and a written statement made by a Japanese prisoner who was himself serving a sentence for desertion from the Japanese Army. After considering the evidence, the court found Baba not guilty. As no conviction was recorded, there was no Judge Advocate General's review. This page summarises the trial, the evidence presented and the surviving archival records.
List of accused
BABA/HIDETOSHI
Evidence for prosecution was partly verbal and partly documentary - An Australian plane was shot down at Tomohon around July or August 1945, The crew of three were taken prisoner. While under guard one of the PW seized a guard's bayonet and attempted to strike him with it. The guard attacked the PW and struck him many blows until unconscious. He died at a later date. Only evidence was a written statement made by a Japanese prisoner who was serving a term of imprisonment on a charge of desertion from Japanese Army.