Italy Begins Trial of U.S. Soldier in Iraq Shooting
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
ROME — An American soldier went on trial in absentia yesterday for the shooting death of an Italian intelligence agent at a checkpoint in Iraq two years ago, a case that strained relations between Rome and Washington.
The judge immediately adjourned the proceedings against Specialist Mario Lozano, 37, until May 14 for technical reasons.
The agent, Nicola Calipari, was shot March 4, 2005, on his way to the Baghdad airport shortly after securing the release of a kidnapped Italian journalist, Giuliana Sgrena. Ms. Sgrena and another agent who was driving the car were wounded. Specialist Lozano was indicted in February on charges of murder and attempted murder.
