Posted on 08/28/2008 3:50:40 PM PDT by RaceBannon
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A former Marine accused of killing unarmed Iraqi detainees was acquitted of voluntary manslaughter Thursday 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, during some of the fiercest fighting of the war.
The verdict left the 28-year-old defendant in tears. He cried so loud that the judge smacked his gavel to call for order. Nazario's family and friends also sobbed in the courtroom.
"It's been a long, hard year for my family," Nazario said outside the courtroom. "I need a moment to catch my breath and try to get my life back together."
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.
One of the jurors, Ingrid Wicken, hugged Nazario's sobbing mother, Sandra Montanez, without speaking after the verdict was read. "I watched her all week. She was being tortured every day," Wicken said later.
Wicken said the panel acquitted Nazario because there was not enough evidence against him.
"I think you don't know what goes on in combat until you are in combat," she said.
Nazario's attorney, Kevin McDermott, said he believes the verdict will curb faulty filings.
"I don't think they are going to put on a case in the future with a lack of evidence," McDermott said.
(snip)
Excellent News...ping!
Good news!
“I think you don’t know what goes on in combat until you are in combat,” she said.”
Amen Lady. Amen.
I always had in mind a more robust and lavish object to place in that location.
Thank God that there are STILL jurors with good sense!
God bless the Marines and these prosecutors can go to hell!
I am just so exceedingly sorry this young man had to go through this at all.
As soon as this news came out, Jack Murtha raced to the nearest microphone to apologize for his baseless charges.
What was that?
He didn’t???
Oh. Never mind.
Praise the Lord! Exactly!
I keep asking myself why this wasn’t seen as a frivolous prosecution with no hope of a conviction.
Do judges determine beforehand or afterwards if a prosecution is frivolous? Does someone have to complain before it’s even considered?
How do they give Nazario his life back?
Of course good news..but why on earth we are indicting our heroes is beyond me.
We play by the rules but the other side doesn’t have to???...this is not a war...it’s a joke and ridiculous...ultimately self defeating.
Bless you Nazario and thank you for your service.
Now, on to the next aquittal, or hopefully, dropped charges.
Congrats, AM, on your new NVGs!
:>)
Hooray and God bless the members of that jury.
Jack Murtha should rot in Hell.
I don't know how it got to trial at all.
Wasn't there a Grand Jury?
Isn't the standard for a Grand Jury that they must conclude that it is "probable" (or more probable than not) that the defendant committed a federal crime? This wasn't even close.
Once again, the jury didn't even have time to order a pizza before they came back with a not-guilty verdict. The prosecutor should be fired.
If the standard is “probable” and not “possible,” then there’s no way this was not a frivolous prosecution.
It is possible that the naval investigator misrepresented the case to the prosecutor and grand jury. That’s someplace an inquiry could be launched.
In this case, the prosecutor could always maintain that Weemer and Nelson ruined the case by their refusal to testify.
Somebody tell Biden he’s an idiot. How many chances does he get to be wrong?
Thanks for the additional coverages.
Let us know when you figure it out.
OORAH!!
Yes indeed..... Fine news..... NEEDED result..
NOW -— I could die a happy old man if someone would bring charges of TREASON against Murtha.
Even if his can’t be convicted — let HIM undergo YEARS of persecution and exposure to being imprisoned as he set up our Marines to suffer....
To state my heartfelt opinion of Murtha would get me banned for life and maybe even arrested.....
Excellent outcome, but there should never have been such trial.
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