RP appeals court acquits Smith

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- The Court of Appeals has overturned the rape conviction of a US Marine in a case that intensified anti-US protests in the country.

The tribunal acquitted Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith of raping a Filipino woman while his fellow Marines watched and cheered him on inside a moving van at the former Subic US Naval base three years ago. The decision was made public today.

Smith was sentenced to 40 years in prison by the trial court. He was immediately ordered released from detention at the US Embassy.

The acquittal comes a month after the woman submitted to the appeals court a statemet altering her testimony, saying that she may have led him to beleive she wanted sex. The woman has since moved to the United States.