As Americans debate whether Terri Schiavo should starve to death as an act of mercy for the brain-injured Florida woman, a U.S. military court in Germany today convicted an Army tank company commander of a lesser criminal charge in connection with the shooting death of a wounded Iraqi terrorist suspect last year.
Capt. Rogelio ''Roger'' Maynulet was found guilty of assault with intent to commit voluntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. Prosecutors had sought conviction on a more serious charge of assault with intent to commit murder, which carried a 20-year maximum.
Maynulet, 30, of Chicago, stood at attention as Lt. Col. Laurence Mixon, the head of the six-member panel, read the verdict at the court-martial. The court was to reconvene later today to consider Maynulet's sentence.
Mixon did not give reasons for the ruling, which followed 2? hours of deliberations.
In closing arguments earlier today, prosecutor Maj. John Rothwell said that Maynulet ''played God'' when he shot the wounded driver.
He argued that Maynulet, who was trained in first aid, should not have relied on a medic who said the man was beyond saving and told him ''there's nothing I can do.''
''Those five words were enough to make a life and death decision, and he chose to end a life,'' Rothwell said. ''This combat-trained life saver prescribed two bullets. He didn't call his superiors for guidance, didn't consult with his medic.''
Maynulet said at this week's court-martial that he shot the man to ''put him out of his misery.'' His lawyers have argued that his actions were in line with the Geneva Conventions on the conduct of war.
His defense attorney, Capt. Will Helixon, argued that conflicting testimony from neurosurgeons about whether the Iraqi was still alive at the time of the shooting required that Maynulet be acquitted.
Maynulet's command was suspended May 25, but he has remained with the Wiesbaden-based unit.
Ironically, as the court-martial began and ended this week, the story dominating the news in the United States continues to be the case of Terri Schiavo, now in her 14th day of court-ordered starvation.
In that case, which has been the subject of acts of Congress, U.S. and Florida Supreme Court actions, new laws by the Florida legislature and rulings by more than a dozen judges, her estranged husband, Michael Schiavo contends his wife suffered a heart attack triggered by a chemical imbalance brought on by an eating disorder. Her parents, however, Bob and Mary Schindler, suspect oxygen was cut off to the brain because her husband tried to strangle her.
Maynulet, 30, was characterized by one of his superiors as one of the ''top three'' of roughly 37 officers he oversaw at that time, describing him as ''a tremendous soldier.''
Col. Bradley W. May told the court in written testimony read aloud yesterday that, while he agreed in principle against firing on the wounded, each case must be considered individually.
''To make that determination, we have to look at all the facts,'' May said in his statement. ''It may be that some make it not as easy to determine as we would all like.''
Video from a U.S. drone surveillance aircraft showed the outline of a soldier in a helmet and battle gear, identified by a witness as Maynulet, aiming a weapon at an Iraqi man lying on the ground, followed by a flash.
The man on the ground appeared to be waving his right arm before the shot. Several seconds later, he appeared to twitch as though hit again.
Defense attorneys maintain that Maynulet, convinced the man would not live, shot him to end his suffering.
In addition, Cassady conceded that he had lied during Maynulet's Article 32 hearing – the military equivalent of a civilian grand jury investigation – giving testimony about injuries the man had not suffered because he felt guilty about the incident.
In further testimony yesterday, two Iraqis who worked with Maynulet during his deployment to Iraq described him as compassionate and spoke of his helpfulness to civilians and Iraqi soldiers training for the civilian defense corps.
''Capt. Maynulet has compassion toward the Iraqi people,'' Maj. Yehay Haider said in written testimony read before the court. ''Capt. Maynulet cares for the Iraqis.''
Meanwhile, a pre-trial, or Article 32, hearing next month will determine whether 2nd Lt. Ilario G. Pantano will face a court-martial that could lead to the death penalty. He is accused of killing two suspected Iraqi terrorists who, he says, refused to follow orders after their capture and made threatening moves.
Related stories:
U.S. Army court-martials captain for mercy killing
FBI probing threat against accused Marine
Accused Marine featured in gripping story
Witness backs accused Marine's story
Marines urge patience in accused-officer case
Marine's charges set 'terrible precedent'
For backround on the 15-year saga, read "The whole Terri Schiavo story."
Editor's note: WorldNetDaily has been reporting on the Terri Schiavo story since 2002 – far longer than most other national news organization – and exposing the many troubling, scandalous, and possibly criminal, aspects of the case that to this day rarely surface in news reports. Read WorldNetDaily's unparalleled, in-depth coverage of the life-and-death fight over Terri Schiavo, including over 150 original stories and columns.
Court documents and other information are posted on the Schindler family website.
Links to all "Terri briefs" regarding the governor's defense of Terri's Law are on the Florida Supreme Court website, public information.