The New York Times wrote that it was not definitively proven whether the three Marines killed by villagers were the same ones responsible for the rapes. The families of the deceased Marines voiced doubt that their relatives were capable of committing rape.

The reaction of the relatives is expected, the reaction of the NYT is disappointing. The amount of wartime rapes proven is near zero. No shit, there was no public trial where evidence was presented and guilt was proven. Nor would there have been, the US military to this day protects their soldiers from facing consequences for crimes against civilians.