U.S. soldier on trial in Italy for Iraq killing

[LiberalNation]

Italy has no authority to try or convict our soldiers. This is nothing but a show trial that will achieve nothing and is non-sense.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070417/...yu5ACauSl34T0D

ROME (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier went on trial in absentia in Italy on Tuesday accused of killing an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq, but his lawyer said his client would reject the court's jurisdiction.

After preliminary motions, it was adjourned until May 14.

Mario Lozano, from the U.S. Army National Guard in New York, denies wrongdoing in firing at Nicola Calipari's car when the agent was escorting a newly freed hostage to Baghdad airport in 2005. He says the driver ignored warnings to slow down or stop.

He is being tried in absentia because Washington has ruled out handing him over and his lawyer, Alberto Biffani, indicated his client could formally reject the Italian court's authority.

"Of course, Mr. Lozano will reject that this court has jurisdiction in this case," Biffani told reporters.

The U.S. and Italian governments said the shooting was an accident, but an Italian judge charged Lozano with murder and two counts of attempted murder of those in the car.

His trial began in a courtroom inside Rome's maximum security prison, Rebibbia, the largest in the Italian capital. Seven empty cages flanked the left side of the courtroom, normally used to hold high-security defendants.

"It's worse for him if he does not come," said Franco Coppi, the lawyer representing Calipari's widow Rosa.

The prosecution reacted with open disdain when Biffani claimed that his client had no formal knowledge of the case against him, especially following Lozano's recent interviews with U.S. media in which he defended his actions.

"This is a statement that we consider an insult to our intelligence," Coppi said.

BILATERAL TIES

The case has strained bilateral ties. Although Rome agreed the killing was an accident, it has also criticized the U.S. military for placing inexperienced troops at a poorly set up roadblock and the government supports the trial.

"The Americans have a different point of view. They consider the case closed and that there is no one to blame," said Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema.

For the freed hostage, reporter Giuliana Sgrena, the trial showed U.S. troops could be held accountable for their actions. She was wounded in the shooting and is suing for damages.

"We have demonstrated we can break this immunity that normally American soldiers have been guaranteed all over the world," Sgrena told Reuters television.

Lozano angered Sgrena and Calipari's widow last week by defending the shooting.

"If you hesitate, you come home in a box -- and I didn't want to come home in a box. I did what any soldier would do in my position," he was quoted as saying by the New York Post.

The trial is one of the biggest in Italy involving U.S. military since a low-flying Marines plane cut an Italian ski lift cable, killing 20 people in 1998. A U.S. military court later cleared the pilot of manslaughter.

[Kathianne]

Italy has no authority to try or convict our soldiers. This is nothing but a show trial that will achieve nothing and is non-sense.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070417/...yu5ACauSl34T0D

ROME (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier went on trial in absentia in Italy on Tuesday accused of killing an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq, but his lawyer said his client would reject the court's jurisdiction.

After preliminary motions, it was adjourned until May 14.

Mario Lozano, from the U.S. Army National Guard in New York, denies wrongdoing in firing at Nicola Calipari's car when the agent was escorting a newly freed hostage to Baghdad airport in 2005. He says the driver ignored warnings to slow down or stop.

He is being tried in absentia because Washington has ruled out handing him over and his lawyer, Alberto Biffani, indicated his client could formally reject the Italian court's authority.

"Of course, Mr. Lozano will reject that this court has jurisdiction in this case," Biffani told reporters.

The U.S. and Italian governments said the shooting was an accident, but an Italian judge charged Lozano with murder and two counts of attempted murder of those in the car.

His trial began in a courtroom inside Rome's maximum security prison, Rebibbia, the largest in the Italian capital. Seven empty cages flanked the left side of the courtroom, normally used to hold high-security defendants.

"It's worse for him if he does not come," said Franco Coppi, the lawyer representing Calipari's widow Rosa.

The prosecution reacted with open disdain when Biffani claimed that his client had no formal knowledge of the case against him, especially following Lozano's recent interviews with U.S. media in which he defended his actions.

"This is a statement that we consider an insult to our intelligence," Coppi said.

BILATERAL TIES

The case has strained bilateral ties. Although Rome agreed the killing was an accident, it has also criticized the U.S. military for placing inexperienced troops at a poorly set up roadblock and the government supports the trial.

"The Americans have a different point of view. They consider the case closed and that there is no one to blame," said Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema.

For the freed hostage, reporter Giuliana Sgrena, the trial showed U.S. troops could be held accountable for their actions. She was wounded in the shooting and is suing for damages.

"We have demonstrated we can break this immunity that normally American soldiers have been guaranteed all over the world," Sgrena told Reuters television.

Lozano angered Sgrena and Calipari's widow last week by defending the shooting.

"If you hesitate, you come home in a box -- and I didn't want to come home in a box. I did what any soldier would do in my position," he was quoted as saying by the New York Post.

The trial is one of the biggest in Italy involving U.S. military since a low-flying Marines plane cut an Italian ski lift cable, killing 20 people in 1998. A U.S. military court later cleared the pilot of manslaughter.

So you chose to post it, why?

[LiberalNation]

To post my opinion on what Italy was doing. Couldn't really do that without giving you the story could I. As for people who constantly ask why, who cares. If you don't want to respond then don't.

[Kathianne]

To post my opinion on what Italy was doing. Couldn't really do that without giving you the story could I. As for people who constantly ask why, who cares. If you don't want to respond then don't.

and

[LiberalNation]

K then, that standard might bite you though. I could just as easily call stories you post lame for no reason except you posted them and I didn't like them.

[Gunny]

Italy has no authority to try or convict our soldiers. This is nothing but a show trial that will achieve nothing and is non-sense.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070417/...yu5ACauSl34T0D

ROME (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier went on trial in absentia in Italy on Tuesday accused of killing an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq, but his lawyer said his client would reject the court's jurisdiction.

After preliminary motions, it was adjourned until May 14.

Mario Lozano, from the U.S. Army National Guard in New York, denies wrongdoing in firing at Nicola Calipari's car when the agent was escorting a newly freed hostage to Baghdad airport in 2005. He says the driver ignored warnings to slow down or stop.

He is being tried in absentia because Washington has ruled out handing him over and his lawyer, Alberto Biffani, indicated his client could formally reject the Italian court's authority.

"Of course, Mr. Lozano will reject that this court has jurisdiction in this case," Biffani told reporters.

The U.S. and Italian governments said the shooting was an accident, but an Italian judge charged Lozano with murder and two counts of attempted murder of those in the car.

His trial began in a courtroom inside Rome's maximum security prison, Rebibbia, the largest in the Italian capital. Seven empty cages flanked the left side of the courtroom, normally used to hold high-security defendants.

"It's worse for him if he does not come," said Franco Coppi, the lawyer representing Calipari's widow Rosa.

The prosecution reacted with open disdain when Biffani claimed that his client had no formal knowledge of the case against him, especially following Lozano's recent interviews with U.S. media in which he defended his actions.

"This is a statement that we consider an insult to our intelligence," Coppi said.

BILATERAL TIES

The case has strained bilateral ties. Although Rome agreed the killing was an accident, it has also criticized the U.S. military for placing inexperienced troops at a poorly set up roadblock and the government supports the trial.

"The Americans have a different point of view. They consider the case closed and that there is no one to blame," said Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema.

For the freed hostage, reporter Giuliana Sgrena, the trial showed U.S. troops could be held accountable for their actions. She was wounded in the shooting and is suing for damages.

"We have demonstrated we can break this immunity that normally American soldiers have been guaranteed all over the world," Sgrena told Reuters television.

Lozano angered Sgrena and Calipari's widow last week by defending the shooting.

"If you hesitate, you come home in a box -- and I didn't want to come home in a box. I did what any soldier would do in my position," he was quoted as saying by the New York Post.

The trial is one of the biggest in Italy involving U.S. military since a low-flying Marines plane cut an Italian ski lift cable, killing 20 people in 1998. A U.S. military court later cleared the pilot of manslaughter.

Simple fact of life in a war zone being policed by the military. Don't stop at a road block ... you get shot.

I agree this is just a bunch of showy BS, and to Italy.

[Samantha]

Italy has no authority to try or convict our soldiers. This is nothing but a show trial that will achieve nothing and is non-sense.

So you chose to post it, why?

and

So do we take your posts to mean you disagree with LN?

Do you think Italy has authority to try and convict our soldiers? You think it's not a show trial? You think it's not nonsense?

I'm surprised!

[gabosaurus]

By what authority does the U.S. have to try "enemy combatants" from other countries? And what is the difference?
Double standard much?

[Hobbit]

By what authority does the U.S. have to try "enemy combatants" from other countries? And what is the difference?
Double standard much?

First off, this guy isn't be tried as an enemy combatant, because he's not an enemy. Second, the Italians don't actually have the guy. Third, the whole thing is their fault. They're just trying to throw the blame off on the Americans because they think they can get away with it.

[gabosaurus]

First off, this guy isn't be tried as an enemy combatant, because he's not an enemy. Second, the Italians don't actually have the guy. Third, the whole thing is their fault. They're just trying to throw the blame off on the Americans because they think they can get away with it.

And we are not doing the same? Blaming everyone else for our transgressions?
Come into the light, Hobbit! There is a brave new world out there to be discovered!

[Gunny]

And we are not doing the same? Blaming everyone else for our transgressions?
Come into the light, Hobbit! There is a brave new world out there to be discovered!

Okay. Do tell which enemy combatants, caught as "troops in the field" has the US tried?

We've tried terrorists who are criminals, not enemy combatants. The ones we have tried, we haven't had to trump the evidence nor charges.

Detainees are in a POW status. Whole different animal.

You want to try again?