US soldier on trial for Iraq killing
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
A UNITED STATES soldier went on trial in absentia in Italy yesterday accused of killing an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq, but his lawyer said his client would reject the court's jurisdiction.
After preliminary motions, the trial was adjourned until May 14 for procedural reasons.
Mario Lozano, from the US 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 US 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 flank 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, who has filed for damages.
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 US media in which he defended his actions.
"This is a statement that we consider an insult to our intelligence," Coppi said.
The freed hostage, reporter Giuliana Sgrena, said the trial showed US troops would be held accountable for their actions. She was wounded in the shooting and is suing for damages.
Lozano angered Sgrena and Calipari's widow last week by defending the shooting.Reuters
After preliminary motions, the trial was adjourned until May 14 for procedural reasons.
Mario Lozano, from the US 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 US 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 flank 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, who has filed for damages.
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 US media in which he defended his actions.
"This is a statement that we consider an insult to our intelligence," Coppi said.
The freed hostage, reporter Giuliana Sgrena, said the trial showed US troops would be held accountable for their actions. She was wounded in the shooting and is suing for damages.
Lozano angered Sgrena and Calipari's widow last week by defending the shooting.Reuters
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