Veteran pleads innocent on Iraq deaths

RIVERSIDE, Calif., Sept. 13 (UPI) -- An Iraq war veteran in Riverside, Calif., pleaded innocent to manslaughter charges stemming from the deaths of two Iraqi detainees nearly three years ago.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Thursday that Jose Luis Nazario Jr. pleaded innocent this week to charges he either killed or ordered the deaths of two detainees in the Iraqi city of Fallujah in November 2004.

Nazario and several other U.S. Marines captured four suspected insurgents in Fallujah and were ordered to shot them by a superior, federal court documents alleged.

Similar charges against one of the other Marines were dismissed Wednesday by a general serving as the military's authority for the cases.

Since Nazario is now a civilian, he is being tried in a federal court on the manslaughter charges.

The Press-Enterprise said that the 27-year-old veteran, who entered his plea Wednesday, remained free on a $50,000 bond until his trial continues.