Opening statements begin in Fallujah case

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Opening statements begin in Fallujah case

AP foreign, Thursday August 21 2008

By CHELSEA J. CARTER

AP Military Affairs Writer

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) - A former Marine charged
with killing unarmed detainees in Iraq did what he
did to save his comrades, his attorney said Thursday
as opening statements in the defendant's first-of-
its-kind federal trial began.

Jose Luis Nazario Jr. is the first civilian to be
tried under a federal law that allows the prosecution
of former military service members for war crimes.

Prosecutor Charles Kovats described Nazario as a man
who killed “unarmed, submissive, docile” detainees
and encouraged men under his charge to do the same
thing.

-snip-

Defense attorney Kevin McDermott countered that
Nazario killed insurgents to save his comrades in a
city where every resident was looking for a fight.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7743661

[Judi Lynn]

1. Federal jury acquits ex-Marine in Iraqis' deaths

Federal jury acquits ex-Marine in Iraqis' deaths
By CHELSEA J. CARTER Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 08/28/2008 02:06:14 PM PDT


RIVERSIDE, Calif.—A former Marine accused of killing unarmed Iraqi detainees has been acquitted of voluntary manslaughter in a first-of-its-kind federal trial.

The jury took six hours to find Jose Luis Nazario Jr. not guilty of charges that he killed or caused others to kill four unarmed detainees on Nov. 9, 2004, in Fallujah, Iraq.

Thursday's verdict marks the first time a civilian jury has determined whether the alleged actions of a former military service member in combat violated the law of war.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10327006?nclick_check=1