IRAQ: Civilian jury to decide Marine's fate

UPDATE: The jury acquitted defendant Thursday afternoon of all charges after less than six hours of deliberation. Jurors said prosecutors lacked evidence.

A civilian jury in Riverside, Calif., is deciding whether former Marine Sgt. Jose Luis Nazario committed crimes during the first day of the U.S. battle in November 2004 to rout insurgents from Fallouja.

It is the first time a former military personnel has been tried under a law passed in 2000 by Congress. Nazario has pleaded not guilty. He did not testify during the trial but during pre-trial media interviews he denied any role in the deaths of four Iraqis.

But a tape recording played to jurors appeared to show Nazario admitting to Marine Sgt. Jermaine Nelson that he ordered the four killed.

His lawyer told jurors that a conviction will undercut the morale and effectiveness of other troops in warzones. But the prosecutor said failure to convict will damage the moral authority of the U.S. in Iraq and elsewhere.

For more, read today's Los Angeles Times story "Ex-Marine's case goes to Riverside County jurors."

--Tony Perry, Riverside

Photo: Jose Luis Nazario. Credit: Associated Press.

P.S. The Los Angeles Times issues a free daily newsletter with the latest headlines from all over the Middle East, as well as the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. You can subscribe by logging in at the website here, clicking on the box for "LA Times updates," and then clicking on the "World: Mideast" box.

Comments

[Kerrie]

Being the daughter of Kevin B Mcdermott, the lead defense attorney for
Nazario, Ive been there everyday in court taking notes and watching the prosecutors despartely trying to make a case out of nothing but what witness’ “say” they have seen over in Iraq. However, now these two lead witness’ are mostly likely going to be held in contempt and are not testifying under any circumstances.
Also how can one rely on a witness to recall what really happened when they are suffering from PTSD?????

So the prosecutors really have nothing to go on and if this trial is not found in the favor of Nazario, American society we’ll really see what our legal system is all about

These team of lawyers together teamed up to defend Nazario with my father as lead and are doing all of this legal work for free
So please respect the men and women who are trying to make a difference
and you can also by
standing up for what you believe in, dont buy into the government pricks who have never even encountered a war field or had to experience his or her best friend dying in their arms, this federal court doesnt know anything about the military law, its a joke
so, come to court and give your support for Nazario’s sake and his lawyers
please go, you are very welcomed
we want to fill the court room, we want Narzario to know he is in the best hands and is supported GREATLY

United States District Court, riverside
located on the corner of lime and 12th street in RS
2nd floor, court room:1

p.s.
For those who think he is guilty, we’ll give you a gun and send you into Iraq, and you can rely on making the correct decisions well hoping desparetly your not convicted of doing what you were COMMANDED to do
so once you have experienced war, you can come talk to us