US marine to stand trial over murder of Iraqi prisoner

A US Marine is to stand trial for murder in connection with the shooting death of an unarmed Iraqi prisoner during the 2004 battle for Fallujah in Iraq. Sgt Ryan Weemer will face a military trial on charges of unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty, the US Marine Corps said yesterday. Weemer is one of three current and former Marines accused of breaking rules of engagement and killing four men they had captured after a platoon commander radioed to ask whether the Iraqis were "dead yet". Another Sergeant, Jermaine Nelson, was ordered to stand trial in May on identical charges, while their former squad leader, Jose Nazario Jr, has been charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of two captives He will be tried in a civilian court. In June, Nelson and Weemer were both jailed for contempt of court for... [read full story]