USA/FILE: U.S. soldier Mario Lozano on trial in Rome for killing an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq says in New York that he feels like a prisoner in his own country

Record ID: 498011

  • Title: USA/FILE: U.S. soldier Mario Lozano on trial in Rome for killing an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq says in New York that he feels like a prisoner in his own country
  • Date: 15th May 2007
  • Summary: (W1) NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MAY 14, 2007) (REUTERS) MARIO LOZANO SITTING ON COUCH MARIO LOZANO SITTING ON COUCH TALKING TO ATTORNEY EDWARD HAYES
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Legal System,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVADC0V0BYGDW4Q92CDGG0BXT4RX
  • Story Text: U.S. soldier Mario Lozano says he feels like a prisoner in his own country. The Italian trial in absentia for Lozano, who is accused of killing an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq, has been postponed until July.
    A U.S. soldier on trial in Rome for killing an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq said on Monday (May 14) in New York that he did nothing wrong and that he feels like a prisoner in his own country.
    Washington has refused to hand over Mario Lozano, from the U.S. National Guard in New York, so he is on trial in absentia for killing Nicola Calipari as the intelligence agent escorted a newly freed Italian hostage out of the country in 2005.
    Lozano was a gunner at a checkpoint on the road to Baghdad airport when he said he opened fire on the car carrying Calipari and the freed hostage, journalist Giuliana Sgrena, after its driver ignored warning shots and refused to stop.
    Rome prosecutors are also seeking to convict Lozano for the attempted murder of Sgrena, a journalist for Communist newspaper Il Manifesto, and another Italian intelligence agent who was driving the car.
    Lozano is represented by Italian lawyer Alberto Biffani and a U.S. attorney in New York, Edward Hayes. Both feel that the Italian courts do not have jurisdiction to try Lozano. Hayes said in a Reuters interview, "on almost all war-time situations every country reserves the right to discipline their own soldiers."
    Lozano told Reuters, "it is scary because now I can't leave my country, I feel like a prisoner in my own country, a prisoner of war practically."
    The trial of the the 37-year-old father of two teenage daughters, which began on April 17, resumed briefly on Monday but was delayed until July 10 for procedural reasons. Technical issues have so far prevented the start of arguments.
    The case has strained ties between Rome and Washington. Although Rome agreed the killing was an accident, it has criticized the U.S. military for placing inexperienced troops at a poorly set roadblock.
    Lozano said that if the Army were to ask him tomorrow to go back to Iraq again, he would because "it's his job."
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