JURIST - Paper Chase: Military jury convicts US Marine of conspiracy in Hamdania Iraqi civilian murder

[JURIST] A military jury Wednesday found a US Marine corporal guilty [press release] of conspiracy to murder, larceny and housebreaking for his role in the April 2006 kidnapping and murder of an Iraqi civilian in Hamdania [USMC timeline; JURIST news archive]. Cpl. Marshall Magincalda was also found not guilty of premeditated murder, kidnapping and making a false official statement. A jury continued to deliberate Wednesday in the case of another accused Marine, Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III, who faces several charges [JURIST report], including murder.

Five defendants have pleaded guilty [JURIST report] in the death of Hashim Ibrahim Awad [Wikipedia profile], who was removed from his residence and killed, then arranged with a shovel and firearm to appear as if he were planting an improvised explosive device. In February, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Melson J. Bacos testified [JURIST report] that Magincalda was among the Marines who entered Awad's house and dragged him out. Magincalda's sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin Thursday morning. AP has more.

For a one-stop snapshot of the latest legal news that matters, with breaking documents, new legal videos, live law-related webcasts, commentary by expert law professors and more - all updated through the day in real time, with no ads and no registration barriers - visit JURIST's homepage and check back often...