It will mark the first time that a little-known federal law is used to prosecute a former service member for actions taken during
combat.
August 18, 2008
LA Times
Tony Perry
Here is the first use of MEJA and not to prosecute a contractor in a war zone, but a former military member. It will be interesting to see whether a civilian jury will be more sympathetic or less so than a military jury. Of note, the defendant was a probationary police officer in Riverside when federal charges were levied against him. He was immediately fired - so what happened to innocent until proven guilty?
SAN DIEGO -- When the trial of a former Marine begins Tuesday in federal court in Riverside, it will mark the first time a little-known federal law has been used to prosecute a former Marine or soldier for actions during combat.
A jury of civilians will decide the fate of former Marine Sgt. Jose Nazario, 28, who is accused in the killing of four Iraqi prisoners.
The law wasn't originally crafted to target military personnel. Passed by Congress in 2000, the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act was designed to allow the prosecution of civilians employed by the Department of Defense for crimes committed while overseas on official business.
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