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US marine jailed for Iraq death
By David Willis
BBC News, Camp Pendleton, California
A US marine has received an 18-month prison sentence for his part in killing an unarmed man in Iraq.
Pte John Jodka is one of eight servicemen implicated in the attack seven months ago in Hamdania, in which a 52-year-old man died.
The judge said he would have sentenced Jodka to five years, but he was bound by a "very fortuitous" pre-trial deal.
Jodka, who apologised to the victim's family, is expected to give evidence against the other defendants.
They are expected to face murder charges, and they could face the death penalty if convicted.
By giving evidence against them, Pte Jodka stands to receive a general discharge from the marines, although the judge, Lt Col David Jones, said that he would have given him a dishonourable discharge.
Disabled grandfather
At 20 years of age, Pte Jodka is the youngest and lowest-ranking member of a group of marines who were deployed in Iraq earlier this year.
It is alleged that the eight-strong team went looking for a suspected insurgent.
When they failed to find him the men became frustrated and dragged a disabled grandfather from his home, bound and beat him and then shot him to death.
In court, Pte Jodka apologised to the family of the Iraqi man who died and to fellow members of the Marine corps.
He also talked about conditions in Iraq, referring to the fear and frustration he and his colleagues felt there and telling the court that he often felt poorly trained for the duties he had been asked to undertake, including counter-terrorism.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...as/6152636.stm
By David Willis
BBC News, Camp Pendleton, California
A US marine has received an 18-month prison sentence for his part in killing an unarmed man in Iraq.Pte John Jodka is one of eight servicemen implicated in the attack seven months ago in Hamdania, in which a 52-year-old man died.
The judge said he would have sentenced Jodka to five years, but he was bound by a "very fortuitous" pre-trial deal.
Jodka, who apologised to the victim's family, is expected to give evidence against the other defendants.
They are expected to face murder charges, and they could face the death penalty if convicted.
By giving evidence against them, Pte Jodka stands to receive a general discharge from the marines, although the judge, Lt Col David Jones, said that he would have given him a dishonourable discharge.
Disabled grandfather
At 20 years of age, Pte Jodka is the youngest and lowest-ranking member of a group of marines who were deployed in Iraq earlier this year.
It is alleged that the eight-strong team went looking for a suspected insurgent.
When they failed to find him the men became frustrated and dragged a disabled grandfather from his home, bound and beat him and then shot him to death.
In court, Pte Jodka apologised to the family of the Iraqi man who died and to fellow members of the Marine corps.
He also talked about conditions in Iraq, referring to the fear and frustration he and his colleagues felt there and telling the court that he often felt poorly trained for the duties he had been asked to undertake, including counter-terrorism.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...as/6152636.stm
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