Former Marine still faces charges in slayings

[unhappycamper]

Former Sgt. Jose Luis Nazario, right
Trial in Fallujah deaths starts July 8.


Former Marine still faces charges in slayings
By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday May 1, 2008 6:22:34 EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — A federal judge Monday refused to drop charges against a former Marine charged in the killing of several men his squad detained during a pivotal 2004 battle in Iraq.

Federal District Court Judge Stephen G. Larson denied a defense request to dismiss federal charges against former Sgt. Jose L. Nazario Jr. The judge ordered the case to trial, beginning July 8.

Nazario, a former squad leader with Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, is facing two counts of voluntary manslaughter in connection with a house-clearing operation in Fallujah on Nov. 9, 2004.

Government prosecutors allege in court briefs that Nazario, “placed a call over his radio,” then “executed” one male detainee and ordered two subordinates to “execute” two other detainees found inside a house in the insurgent-held city.

Nazario completed his enlistment and was discharged Oct. 11, 2005. He was no longer subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but prosecutors filed the charges under a little-known law, the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/04/marine_nazario_043008w/