Decorated US Navy Seal Edward Gallagher acquitted of murder and other most serious charges in war crimes trial
- The platoon leader was convicted of unlawfully posing with the corpse of a captive Islamic State fighter
- Seven-member jury deliberated for about nine hours before delivering its verdict
A US Navy Seal platoon leader charged with committing war crimes in Iraq was acquitted by a military jury on Tuesday of murder and all other counts except for unlawfully posing with the corpse of a captive Islamic State fighter.
The seven-member jury deliberated for about nine hours before delivering its verdict in the court martial of Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, a decorated career combat veteran whose case had drawn the interest of US President Donald Trump.
The single offence of posing for unofficial pictures with a human casualty, in this case the remains of the Iraqi whom Gallagher was acquitted of killing, carries a maximum sentence of four months imprisonment.
Navy authorities said Gallagher has credit for nearly seven months of time already served in pre-trial custody, so he would presumably remain a free man. A sentencing proceeding was to commence later in the day to determine whether Gallagher faces any other punishment, such as a demotion in rank.
The case went to the jury of five US Marines and two Navy personnel – all but one a combat veteran – as the trial phase of the court martial entered its third week.
Gallagher could have faced life in prison if found guilty of the most serious charge against him, premeditated murder. Several fellow Seal team members testified he fatally stabbed the captured Iraqi prisoner in the neck with a custom-made knife after the teenage fighter was brought to Gallagher’s outpost for medical treatment.