Italy may try U.S. soldier for shooting agent in Iraq - Nicola Calipari [View All]

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Italy_may_try_U_S_soldier_for_shooting_agent_in_Iraq.html?siteSect=143&sid=6825947&cKey=1150737829000


ROME (Reuters) - Italian prosecutors on Monday formally requested a trial, in absentia if necessary, of a U.S. soldier accused of shooting dead an Italian intelligence agent in Baghdad last year, judicial sources said.

Mario Lozano of the 69th Infantry Regiment is accused of manslaughter and attempted double homicide in the March 2005 killing of Nicola Calipari, who had been escorting a newly freed Italian hostage to safety when he was shot at a checkpoint.

A judge will have to rule whether there is enough evidence for an indictment.

The governments of Italy and United States officially called the shooting an accident, but Italy's independent magistrates continued their own investigation into the politically-charged incident.