Prison for marine over Iraq death

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A US marine has become the third serviceman to be sentenced for his part in killing a 52-year-old man in Iraq.

Lance Cpl Tyler Jackson, 23, received a 21-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to reduced charges and agreeing to testify against fellow soldiers.

He is one of eight to be implicated in the attack seven months ago in Hamdaniya in which an unarmed man died.

A Navy medic, Melson Bacos, and marine John Jodka have already been jailed for a year and for 18 months respectively.

The terms of their sentences were reduced because they had made pre-trial agreements.

Similarly, in Jackson's case military judge Lt Col Joseph Lisiecki sentenced the marine to nine years in jail, but a deal with prosecutors meant the actual term was limited to 21 months, of which he has already served six.

Public disquiet

Speaking at the hearing, held at Camp Pendleton, California, Jackson expressed regret for his failure to prevent the killing.

<a href="/1/hi/world/americas/5105284.stm" class="">US inquiries into Iraq deaths</a>

"I wish I'd had the courage to prevent his death," he said. His defence lawyer said he had been led astray.

The BBC's David Willis, in California, says other more senior officers among the defendants are expected to face kidnapping and murder charges.

They could face the death penalty if convicted in trials that are likely to drag on towards the end of 2007, our correspondent says.

It is alleged that the eight-strong team went looking for a suspected insurgent.

When they failed to find him the men became frustrated and dragged a disabled grandfather from his home, bound and beat him and then shot dead.

The case comes on the heels of the US mid-term elections, where Iraq featured as a key issue for voters.

Our correspondent says the case will feed into public disquiet about the conduct of the war in Iraq.

In another high profile case, US soldiers are facing the prospect of prosecution over the deaths of 24 Iraqis at Haditha in November 2005.