ITALY: Trial opens in Rome of U.S. soldier accused of killing Italian agent in Iraq

A U.S. soldier accused of killing an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq goes on trial in absentia in Rome, but his lawyer suggests the accused may reject the jurisdiction of the Italian court. A U.S. soldier went on trial in absentia in Italy on Tuesday (April 17) accused of killing an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq, but his lawyer said his client would reject the court's jurisdiction. Mario Lozano, of the U.S. Army National Guard in New York, denies any wrongdoing after firing on Nicola Calipari's car as the agent was escorting a freed hostage to Baghdad airport in 2005. He says the driver ignored warnings to slow down or stop. The U.S. and Italian governments called the shooting an accident, but a judge charged Lozano with voluntary homicide and two counts of attempted murder of the other passengers in the car. The freed hostage, reporter Giuliana Sgrena, arriving at court for the start of the proceedings, said: "Obviously, I hope this trial can clarify some of these events but I am not under any illusion because there have been many obstacles but I hope for the best.' Sgrena was wounded by gunfire in the incident and is suing for damages. Lozano angered Sgrena and Calipari's widow, Rosa, last week by defending the shooting in interviews with U.S. media. Rosa Calipari, elected to the Senate last year, criticised him for talking to the media instead of Italian magistrates. She refused to answer reporters' questions as she arrived at the court on Tuesday. As the proceedings began, Lozano's defence lawyer, Alberto Biffani told the court that his client could formally reject the court's jurisdiction and that Lozano knew nothing of the proceedings. Prosecuting lawyer Franco Coppi angrily replied: "I wish to make known to the court that Lozano never knew of the existence of this trial that has begun today and, for this reason, the defence has requested a postponement of the hearing in order to allow Lozano and his defence staff to be aware of the facts as is the right of someone on trial." "It cannot be tolerated that in this courtroom Lozano's defence have come claiming Lozano didn't know anything about this trial. This is a statement that we consider an insult to our intelligence." During a break in proceedings Biffani said Lozano was originally given a court-appointed lawyer before contacting his own defence attorney. "Now we contest the fact that this appointment of attorney ex-officio means that he (Lozano) has knowledge of the proceedings because he has no relationship with this lawyer appointed ex-officio nor there is proof that shows the opposite," Biffani told Reuters. The judge adjourned the trial until May 14.

ITN Source | April 17, 2007

Tags:. .staff. .guard. .defending. .counts. .knew