judge removes prosecutor from navy seal war crimes case

The jury picked from a panel of 12 is composed of five enlisted men, including a Navy SEAL and four Marines, plus a Navy commander and a Marine chief warrant officer.

He has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder - charges that carry a potential life sentence. Gallagher is accused of stabbing to death an injured prisoner and wounding two civilians - an elderly man and a school-age girl - in sniper shootings in Iraq in 2017. President Donald Trump even intervened to get Gallagher removed from the brig as he awaited trial and is said to be considering a pardon for him. His defense has been championed by his family and some congressional Republicans who have claimed that he’s a hero getting railroaded. Gallagher says disgruntled platoon mates fabricated the charges. The case is built around testimony from Gallagher’s fellow troops and highlights an unusual break in the secrecy of the elite special operations force.

SAN DIEGO - A seven-man jury was selected Tuesday to decide the fate of a decorated Navy SEAL charged with killing a teenage Islamic State prisoner under his care in Iraq and other war crimes.įive Marines and two Navy members were chosen for the high-profile and politically charged court-martial of Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher.

Judge removes prosecutor from navy seal war crimes case