Free Republic

Report: No case against Pantano By John DeSantis Staff Writer john.desantis@starnewsonline.com “The government was unable to present any credible evidence to refute 2nd Lt. Pantano’s assertion that he felt he was about to be attacked. If 2nd Lt. Pantano felt he was about to be attacked, he was well within his right … to shoot the two men.” – Lt. Col. Mark Winn The murder case built by military prosecutors against a Wilmington Marine who said his shooting of two suspected Iraqi insurgents was in self-defense fell into ruin across the pages of a hearing officer’s report, which recommends that...

Pantano hearing begins By John DeSantis Staff Writer john.desantis@starnewsonline.com CAMP LEJEUNE A Marine Corps translator told a military hearing officer that he saw the two alleged Iraqi insurgents shot by 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano half inside their automobile, on their knees, with wounds to their backs. He testified during the first day of a preliminary hearing in the case. The witness, identified only as “Cpl. O” because of his involvement with counterintelligence operations, also said he saw a hand-lettered sign atop the car where the bodies lay reading “No better friend, no worse enemy.” Under questioning by defense attorneys, Cpl....

Hearing set for Marine accused of murder By John DeSantis Staff Writer john.desantis@starnewsonline.com Charges against 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano, the Wilmington Marine accused of murdering two alleged insurgents last year outside an Iraqi house where weapons were found, will be reviewed by military authorities April 25 during a public hearing at Camp Lejeune. The 33-year-old New York City native says he was acting in self-defense when he shot the two men April 15, 2004, but military authorities have suggested the shooting was instead an "execution" during interviews with the Star-News earlier this month. A statement given to investigators by Lt....

<p>Marine 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano currently faces a charge of premeditated murder, which may be punishable by death upon conviction, for shooting two alleged Iraqi insurgents.</p> <p>Editor’s note: A U.S. Marine shot and killed two Iraqi men last April after his unit stopped their vehicle fleeing a house near the Iraqi city of Mahmudiyah. Was it self-defense, as the Marine claims, or an execution, as accusations suggest? This two-part series examines the incident that led to premeditated murder charges against 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano, of Wilmington.</p>

Marine's accuser: No grudge BY BRIAN KATES DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER The sergeant who accused a New York Marine lieutenant of summarily executing two unarmed Iraqi detainees says the young officer was a "motivated" platoon leader and he does "not have any animosity against him." Sgt. Daniel Coburn revealed that he is the Marine who reported 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano to military authorities for killing the two suspected insurgents. The detainees were shot in the back after their handcuffs were removed, according to the charges. Pantano faces charges of premeditated murder and could receive the death penalty if convicted in...