Second US Marine goes on trial for hazing

Honolulu: A second Marine is going to trial for allegedly hazing a fellow Marine who fatally shot himself in Afghanistan after he was beaten, forced to do repeated push-ups and fed mouthfuls of sand.

Sgt Benjamin Johns, a squad leader, has been charged with wrongfully humiliating and demeaning Lance Cpl Harry Lew, who killed himself on April 3 last year. He has also been charged with dereliction for failing to supervise and ensure the welfare of Marines under his care.

Johns' attorney said his client was only trying to save the lives of his squad as he tried to get Lew — who had repeatedly fallen asleep on watch and patrol — to stop falling asleep.

Demotion

The base had been fired on before, and Johns was concerned Lew wouldn't spot Taliban fighters trying to attack their outpost again, Tim Bilecki said.

"These aren't acts of hazing. They're simply not," Bilecki said. "These are actions of a Marine trying to take care of his other Marines."

Another Marine in the squad, Lance Cpl Jacob Jacoby, last week pleaded guilty to assault. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and demoted to private first class. A third Marine will go to trial later.

Jacoby admitted in his court martial that he punched and kicked Lew, saying he was frustrated that the fellow Marine repeatedly fell asleep while on watch.