RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A former Marine accused of killing unarmed Iraqi detainees was acquitted of voluntary man-slaughter Thursday in a first-of-its-kind federal trial.
The jury took six hours to find Jose Luis Nazario Jr. not guilty of charges that he killed or caused others to kill four unarmed detainees on Nov. 9, 2004, in Fallujah, Iraq, during some of the fiercest fighting of the war.
Thursday's verdict marks the first time a civilian jury has determined whether the alleged actions of a former service member in combat violated the law of war.
The jury forewoman, Ingrid Wicken, said the panel acquitted Nazario, 28, because there was not enough evidence against him.
"I think you don't know what goes on in combat until you are in combat," she said.
Nazario's attorney, Kevin McDermott, said he believes the verdict will curb faulty filings.
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"I don't think they are going to put on a case in the future with a lack of evidence," McDermott said.
