The Latest: Jury convicts Marine drill instructor of abuse | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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The Latest: Jury convicts Marine drill instructor of abuse

FILE - In this Oct., 31, 2017 file photo, U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Joseph A. Felix, his wife, and his lawyers exit a courtroom after testimony at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Closing arguments could begin soon for a former Felix, a Marine Corps drill instructor facing court-martial on charges including cruelty and maltreatment. Prosecutors have spent more than a week at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina laying out the case against Felix. They returned to court Wednesday, Nov. 8. (Rory Laverty /The Washington Post/via AP, File)
Original Publication Date November 09, 2017 - 6:51 AM

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The Latest on the court-martial of a Marine Corps drill instructor on charges including cruelty and maltreatment of recruits(all times local):

10:50 p.m.

A military jury has convicted a Marine Corps drill instructor of abusing young recruits and then lying about his actions to investigators.

The eight-man jury at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, decided Thursday that Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Felix's punching, choking and kicking of recruits at the Marine Corps' Parris Island, South Carolina, boot camp included a focus on three Muslim men.

The 34-year-old Iraq veteran could be sentenced to military prison, financial penalties and a dishonourable discharge.

Felix was accused of being a central figure in an abusive group of drill instructors at Parris Island uncovered after the March 2016 suicide of one of the Muslim-American recruits targeting.

An investigation led to charges against Felix, five other drill instructors and the training battalion's commanding officer. Eleven others faced lesser, administrative discipline.

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9:45 a.m.

A military jury is deliberating whether a Marine Corps drill instructor is guilty of beating, stomping and choking new recruits.

The eight-man jury at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, began discussions Thursday into whether Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Felix abused young Marine hopefuls and zeroed in on Muslim-Americans because of their heritage and religion. The 34-year-old Iraq veteran was charged after the Marines investigated why one of his Muslim trainees at the Parris Island, South Carolina, boot camp committed suicide last year.

Investigators found unchecked abuse of recruits by junior drill instructors at the training depot. Felix and five other drill instructors and the training battalion's commanding officer were charged. Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Joshua Pena said 11 others faced lesser, administrative discipline.

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2:50 a.m.

A military jury begins deliberating whether a Marine Corps drill instructor accused of beating new recruits and targeting Muslim-Americans did his job despite accounts of aggression against young troops.

The eight-man jury at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, starts deliberating Thursday whether Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Felix is guilty of maltreating three Muslim recruits. A Pakistani-American recruit from Michigan committed suicide at the Parris Island, South Carolina, boot camp last year after Felix barked at and slapped him.

Felix also is accused of obstruction of justice for telling recruits not to co-operate with investigators after the suicide. He's also charged with drunk and disorderly conduct, and making false official statements. He has pleaded not guilty.

Felix faces the possibility of time in a military prison, financial penalties and a dishonourable discharge.

News from © The Associated Press, 2017
The Associated Press

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