U.S. Soldier Guilty of Panama Murder
A soldier was convicted in a court-martial of murdering a Panamanian civilian while in Panama City in January with U.S. invasion forces.
Army Pfc. Mark McMonagle, 20, of Philadelphia, was convicted of murder in causing the death of Leila Diaz de Panay, 50, who was struck by bullets in her home Jan. 25. The bullets were fired while McMonagle was helping stage a fake fire fight in order to cover the fact that co-defendant Sgt. Paul Finsel had lost his Army pistol in a nearby brothel.
McMonagle, who could be sentenced to life in prison, is to be sentenced today. The court-martial of Finsel, 25, of Arkoma, Okla., begins Friday.
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