Ex-Marine Acquitted Of Deaths Of Unarmed Iraqis

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:56:48 +0000
Windsor Genova - AHN News Writer

Riverside, CA (AHN) - A jury here acquitted a former Marine Thursday of charges of killing four unarmed Iraqi detainees in Iraq in 2004.

Sgt. Jose Luis Nazario Jr., 28, was the first soldier to be tried by a civilian jury for alleged war violations under the amended Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 2000. The law allows prosecution of civilian contractors, military dependents and former soldiers accused of committing crimes overseas.

The jury acquitted Nazario due to lack of evidence that he shot dead the Iraqis during the storming of Fallujah in Iraq on Nov. 9, 2004.

Former Marines who testified during the trial did not see Nazario kill the Iraqis but only heard gunshots.

Had Nazario been convicted of the charges of voluntary manslaughter, assault with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, he could have faced a 10-year sentence.

Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved