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US sentences Iraq soldier in accidental shooting

Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:26pm EDT
(Adds comment from spokesman)

BAGHDAD, July 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. military sentenced a soldier to three years in a military jail on Saturday for the accidental shooting death of a fellow soldier serving in Iraq. "Sergeant Miguel A. Vegaquinones was sentenced to three years confinement, reduction in rank to private ... and a dishonourable discharge," the U.S. military said in a statement.

Vegaquinones pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after the Jan. 11 incident in which he shot another soldier, Sean McCune, in Samarra, north of Baghdad. The military said Vegaquinones "negligently" fired a round at McCune.

According to the terms of a pre-trial plea arrangement, Vegaquinones will serve only up to 30 months, said military spokesman Major Derrick Cheng.

He said the sentence would automatically be appealed. (Editing by Sophie Hares)


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