live verdict reached in navy seal war crimes trial

'We were certainly hoping for a different sentence,' Gallagher's chief civilian lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, told reporters. Still, the demotion was seen as a harsh rebuke for a career combat veteran and two-time Bronze Star recipient who is nearing retirement after almost two decades in the military.

The outcome of the court-martial, capped by a three-week trial on various war crimes charges, marked a significant legal victory for Gallagher, 40, who would have faced a possible life sentence had he been found guilty of murder or attempted murder.

I'm ready to bounce back from this, and to serve my community.' He went on to acknowledge making 'mistakes' throughout his career - 'tactical, ethical, moral,' adding, 'I'm not perfect but I've always bounced back from my mistakes. Marine Corps and the Navy, specifically the SEAL community,' he said. 'I put a black eye on the two communities I love the most, the U.S. The sentence also carries a two-month forfeiture of his salary, a sum of nearly $5,400.Īddressing the jury on Wednesday morning before sentence was pronounced, Gallagher accepted 'full responsibility' for appearing in the photos in question. Instead, he will receive a one-step demotion in his rank from chief petty officer to petty officer first class, presumably accompanied by a corresponding reduction in his pay. That offense, stemming from photos he and fellow SEAL members took with the corpse of the Iraqi prisoner whom Gallagher was acquitted of slaying, carries a maximum sentence of four months' imprisonment. But he was found guilty of posing for pictures with a human casualty - a practice some military personnel refer to as taking 'trophy photos.' The jury found Gallagher not guilty on Tuesday of murder, attempted murder and other charges, including deliberately shooting at unarmed civilians and obstruction of justice.

Live verdict reached in navy seal war crimes trial