[JURIST] The court-martial of US Army Specialist Christopher P. Shore began in Hawaii Tuesday for charges of third-degree murder in the June 23, 2007 killing of an unarmed Iraqi civilian near the Iraqi city of Kirkuk [GlobalSecurity backgrounder]. Shore originally faced charges of premeditated murder of the unspecified "Iraqi national," but those charges were later reduced. Closing arguments were expected when the trial resumed Wednesday. If convicted, Shore could receive a sentence up to life without parole.

During his Article 32 hearing [JAG backgrounder; KHNL report] in October, Shore's lawyer painted Corrales Army Sgt. 1st Class Trey A. Corrales [advocacy website], also accused in the Kirkuk killing, as sadistic and out of control. Shore testified that when Corrales ordered him to shoot the unarmed Iraqi civilian, he intentionally missed. Corrales was charged [JURIST report; press release] in July with the more serious offense of premeditated murder and waived his right to an Article 32 hearing. If convicted, Corrales could face the death penalty. AP has more.