Marine sentenced to 15 years for murder of Iraqi civilian

[Bluebear]

What would be the average penalty in an American civilian court for these charges?


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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A jury sentenced a Marine sergeant Friday to 15 years in prison for the murder of an Iraqi civilian during a fruitless search for an insurgent.

Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III also was dishonorably discharged, reduced in rank to private and given a written reprimand.

Hutchins stood at attention and looked straight ahead as his sentence was announced. He then sat down and briefly put his head on the table in front of him and looked up with red eyes.

His wife, Reyna Hutchins, burst into tears, and other relatives appeared stunned, with his mother slumping in her chair.

On Thursday, Hutchins became the first and only member of an eight-member squad to be convicted of murder in the killing.

He had been charged with premeditated murder, but jurors struck premeditation from the verdict, meaning Hutchins no longer faced a mandatory life sentence.

Testimony from several of his comrades pointed to him as the mastermind of the plot to kidnap and kill a suspected insurgent.

The Iraqi civilian was pulled from his Hamdania home in April 2006 and shot in a hole. An AK-47 and shovel were placed nearby to make him look like an insurgent planting a bomb, according to the prosecution.

Hutchins, of Plymouth, Mass., also was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, making a false official statement and larceny. He was acquitted of kidnapping, assault and housebreaking.

Testimony showed the victim was kidnapped and killed when the squad couldn't find the suspected insurgent.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070803/ap_on_re_us/marines_iraq_shooting

[pwb]

1. this happens when there is no enemy to fight back against.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

2. Kidnapping and killed? First degree murder. Some states would have him executed.

Personally, i don't believe in the death penalty, so life in prison with no parole would be fine with me.

[Disturbed]

3. Military Courts are usually lenient with their own.

He should have received Life sans Parole.