Soldier trial resumes in Italian agent death

[unhappycamper]

Soldier trial resumes in Italian agent death
By Marta Falconi - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Sep 27, 2007 13:02:52 EDT

ROME — The trial of a U.S. soldier charged in the 2005 killing of an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq resumed Thursday in Rome with the prosecution rebutting arguments by the defense that Italy does not have jurisdiction over the case.

Prosecutor Franco Ionta told the court that Italy has the right to continue the trial of Spc. Mario Lozano, who is being tried in absentia on charges of murder and attempted murder.

“This is the place to demonstrate if Lozano acted correctly,” he said. “We ask that you to let the trial go ahead to establish what happened in Iraq.”

Lozano, 38, a member of the New York-based 69th Infantry Regiment, is on trial for the March 4, 2005, death of Nicola Calipari, who was shot at a checkpoint near Baghdad airport shortly after securing the release of a kidnapped Italian reporter. The journalist, Giuliana Sgrena, and another agent who was driving the car were wounded.

Lozano’s lawyer, Alberto Biffani, argued before the trial broke for the summer that members of multinational forces operating in Iraq are under “exclusive jurisdiction” of the country that sent them.

“There is a clear jurisdiction here as the injured parties are Italians and the state has a right to hold a trial when our citizens are involved,” prosecutor Erminio Amelio told the court.

Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/09/ap_lozano_070927/