Marine gets 448 days jail for Iraq murder plot

Camp Pendleton, Calif, Aug 4: A military jury sentenced a Marine to 448 days in prison after he was found guilty of conspiracy in the 2006 murder and kidnapping of an Iraqi grandfather.

The jury at California's Camp Pendleton found Cpl. Marshall Magincalda guilty on Wednesday of larceny and housebreaking. He was also convicted of participating in a conspiracy to murder, kidnap, commit larceny and obstruction of justice, make a false official statement and break into a house.

Because he has spent the last 450 days in detention, the punishment means Magincalda will be released from the brig today and reduced in rank to private.

Six others have been convicted in the Hamdania, Iraq case, one in a series in which US troops have been accused of abuse or killings of Iraqi civilians. The others in the case have received sentences of between no time in prison and eight years behind bars.

Reuters>