California IN BRIEF : FT. ORD : Soldier Acquitted of Panama Murder

An Army sergeant who lost his pistol in a Panama City brothel during the U.S. invasion of Panama was acquitted of murder after a courts-martial. Sgt. Paul Finsel Jr., 25, of Arkoma, Okla., was acquitted in the Jan. 25 death of Leila Diaz de Panay, 50, of Panama City. However, he was convicted of obstructing justice, conspiracy and disobeying orders and sentenced to 20 months in prison with a bad conduct discharge. Earlier, Pfc. Mark McMonagle, 20, of Philadelphia was sentenced to seven years and dishonorably discharged for his conviction in the murder. Investigators said that after Finsel lost his pistol, the soldiers went outside and began firing shots so they could say the weapon was lost in battle. The defense contended there were snipers nearby and that anybody could have fired the shot.