Soldier Acquitted of Afghan's Murder

[unhappycamper]

Soldier Acquitted of Afghan's Murder
February 26, 2009
Associated Press

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - A military jury found a veteran Green Beret not guilty Wednesday of premeditated murder and mutilation in the death of an unidentified Afghan man who may have been a Taliban insurgent.

Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Joseph Newell, 39, of Tecumseh, Mich., was charged in the March 2008 shooting in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province. He was also charged with cutting off the man's ear, which a prosecutor displayed to jurors as the trial opened last week.

The jury deliberated for about four hours Wednesday before returning the verdict. As it was read, Newell lowered his head into his hands and appeared to weep. Newell had faced a life sentence if convicted of premeditated murder.

"He just wants to enjoy his family without anything hanging over his head," said Todd Conormon, Newell's civilian defense lawyer. "He went through a very challenging deployment in perhaps one of the most dangerous places on earth and because of these charges, he never has had a chance to really come home. That starts today."

As the jurors left the courtroom, Newell climbed over the railing between the table and spectators and hugged his family members, starting with his wife Tina. One of his attorneys said Newell would likely retire from the Army.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/soldier-acquitted-of-afghans-murder.html?col=1186032310810