Sentence upheld in soldier-on-soldier killing

[unhappycamper]

Former Army soldier Alberto Martinez, left, and Pfc. Mario Navarrete listen as the jury's guilty verdict was read in court on Jan. 27, 2006, at the Muscogee Superior Court, in Columbus, Ga., for their roles in the July 2003 stabbing death of Spc. Richard Davis.


Sentence upheld in soldier-on-soldier killing
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jan 28, 2008 15:24:58 EST

ATLANTA — The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction of a soldier for participating in the beating, stabbing and incineration of a fellow infantryman.

In an order released Monday, the court unanimously upheld the conviction and life sentence for former Pfc. Mario Roberto Navarrete in the July 2003 slaying of Spc. Richard Davis.

Navarrete, of San Juan, Texas, was one of four former soldiers sentenced in Davis’ death. The case was featured in a broadcast of the CBS News show “48 Hours,” and Navarrete’s lawyers say it served as inspiration for the 2007 film “In The Valley of Elah.”

Navarrete’s attorneys say their client tried to stop the killing, and argued that a Muscogee County trial court made a number of errors when he was convicted in 2006 .

But the state’s high court noted Navarrete was a party to the murder in that he beat Davis, helped burn the body, served as a lookout during the burial and never reported the crime.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_upheld_080128/