M9

Morotai Trial M9 was the first Australian war crimes trial conducted on Morotai, taking place between 29 and 30 November 1945. The case concerned the murder of three Royal Australian Air Force airmen, Hann, Walters and King, who were captured by Japanese forces during the Second World War. Captain Iwasa Tokio of the 211 Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division of the Imperial Japanese Army was charged with responsibility for the killings.

Following the presentation of evidence, the court found Captain Iwasa guilty and sentenced him to death by shooting. Sentence was pronounced on 13 December 1945 and later carried out on Morotai on 6 March 1946. As the inaugural trial before the Australian War Crimes Court on Morotai, M9 marked the beginning of the extensive programme of prosecutions that followed the end of the Pacific War. This page summarises the trial, the evidence, the conviction, the sentence imposed and the surviving archival records, including the Judge Advocate General's report.