SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

When the trial begins Tuesday in a federal court in Riverside, Calif., against former Marine Sgt. Jose L. Nazario Jr., for his role in an incident in Fallujah, jurors who may lack a military background will be asked to determine whether action taken on a battlefield was legitimate, the San Diego, Calif.-area North Country Times reported.

Nazario is accused of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting of two captives and allegedly directing squad members to shoot two others Nov. 9, 2004. If convicted he could face up to 10 years in prison.

Twenty Camp Pendleton, Calif., Marines and one sailor have been prosecuted on charges related to unlawful killings in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, but Nazario is the only one to be prosecuted in a civilian court

"To second-guess the mind-set of a young man in the heat of battle four years later, and to put the question in a (civilian court) system that can't even remotely comprehend the battlefield, is shameful for this government", Joseph Preis, one of Nazario's attorneys, told the newspaper.

 BREAKING STORIES

Police seeking motive for deadly rampage

38 bodies found in Iraq mass grave

Nigerian city of Jos quiet after riots

Rapper pleads guilty to manslaughter

Sources: One killed in Gaza border clash

Mumbai violence shuts down Bollywood

Pet African wildcat shot in Pennsylvania

Prince's ex-wife witnesses Mumbai mayhem

Arrest made in Ark. TV anchor's death

Prosecutor wants Russian judge removed

Cross-Country Slaying Suspect Has Volatile Past

Brancato murder trial begins in New York

Pakistani forces say 25 militants killed

China arcade brawl leaves five dead

17 Taliban militants slain in Afghanistan

Journalists protest killing of reporter

New doc recalls Kennedys' immigrant roots

Indian forces blamed for Kashmir shootings

Bail set for man in dry drowning case

Woman killed in assault on Congo camp