Jury acquits soldier in Iraqi shooting death

msnbc ^ | 5/1/2008 | AP

[tobyhill]

FORT HOOD, Texas - A military jury Thursday acquitted an Army sergeant of premeditated murder in the death of an unarmed Iraqi insurgent who was killed in a village overrun by al-Qaida operatives.

The family of Sgt. Leonardo Trevino gasped, clapped and sobbed after the verdict in his court-martial was read. The 31-year-old from San Antonio also was cleared on charges of attempted murder, solicitation to commit murder and three counts of obstruction of justice.

Trevino said he felt betrayed by the soldiers who testified against him but that he held no ill will toward the Army.

[river rat]

"Military prosecutors said in closing arguments that the Iraqi's slaying last summer was unjustified because the insurgent was severely wounded from a gun battle and posed no threat."

Severely, even MORTALLY wounded men have still been capable of killing or calling out to warn others......

In a heated firefight - I would STILL regard it reckless to bypass a wounded combatant without assuring his certain elimination from the equation of risk.

A warrior OWES it to those brothers following - that all known risks have been addressed...

Visibly armed or not --- grenades or trip wires to charges can still be effectively used by a "wounded and unarmed enemy"....

This soldier should NEVER have been charged... A conviction would have put every soldier at risk by hesitating to do the SAFE and SANE thing in batle.

Borrowing a line from an old movie: "Ever been stung by a dead bee"

The same question and reality is appropriate for a wounded enemy warrior.

[Names Ash Housewares]

GOOD!

All this is UNNECESSARY to begin with.

and DAMN the filth that condemned our heroes and protectors and passed judgment upon them for hatred and politics from the safety and comfort of newspaper, TV and Washington offices.

Never forget, never forgive.

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for the ping.
Great news BUMP!
This is the kind of news that restores faith.

[proudmilitarymrs]

I’ll say nothing except that I am grateful one more time that God has intervened in this travesty of a military trial. May God continue to bless Sgt. Leonardo Trevino, and may he rightly give to God his thanks.

mrs

[BJClinton]

Ha!

Although I believe Sgt. Trevino has too much integrity to exploit that situation.

[pissant]

It is a travesty that these warriors are being tried for these bogus ‘crimes’ in the first place. That being said, THANK GOD!!

[sockmonkey]

Just awesome news. Our second San Antonio hero to be found not guilty this past week. I am so thrilled for him and his family.

[hsalaw]

Very good news.

[crittertracks]

I can only imagine what Sgt. Trevino and his family have gone through. Glad to hear this news of his acquital.

[pandoraou812]

Thank the Lord!

[StarCMC]

YES!!!

[cowdog77]

Miracles still happen.

[TBP]

Liberals must be ready to cry. First the surge is workign, then the Iraqis are meeting the benchmarks, now a Marine is acquitted. What a terrible time!

[brushcop]

Sounds like a false report to me, in any case, somebody needs to get a piece of them, obviously, Trevino is too much of a real soldier to resort to such things, the others are pathetic liars and will be remembered for their false-witnessing.

[StarCMC]

Thank God!!!

[4woodenboats]

WOW.... PTL....and a Drudge Siren

[Girlene]

Wow is right.

"The seven-member jury deliberated an hour Thursday after lengthy closing arguments.....

...."We've got to stop micromanaging how troops on the ground react," defense "attorney Richard V. Stevens told jurors. "You're always reacting and you have to, and if you hesitate, you die." ".....

[amom]

Excellent good news! Thanks for the heads up RedRover.

[Paperdoll]

What a great way to start God’s new day! He does answer prayer! Thanks for the ping.

[Paperdoll]

Thanks for the ping, RedRover! Great news!