By AP/KWMU
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A Marine charged with kidnapping and murdering an Iraqi man in Iraq entered not guilty pleas at his arraignment today.
Corporal Trent Thomas, who is from the St. Louis area, belonged to a squad accused of kidnapping a 52-year-old man, taking him to a roadside hole, shooting him and then trying to cover it up.
Thomas is charged with kidnap, murder, conspiracy, making a false official statement, larceny and housebreaking in the April 26 shooting. He is also charged with assault in a separate incident.
It was the first court appearance for Thomas. He was on his second combat tour in Iraq when the shooting occurred.
Some of the testimony from other members of the squad singled out Thomas. They testified Thomas fired several rounds into the victim's chest.