Soldier freed after trial over shooting
ATLANTA » A Schofield Barracks soldier who was convicted of aggravated assault in the shooting death of an Iraqi man has been freed pending a decision on clemency.
Pvt. Christopher Shore of Winder, Ga., e-mailed his father to tell him that he was no longer confined at the brig at Ford Island.
"I'm feeling so good I can't keep my feet on the ground," Brian Shore told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday after receiving the e-mail.
The message said: "Hey, dad. It was too late to call. I didn't want to wake you but I'm out now so everything is good."
Shore, 26, had faced a murder charge during his February court-martial in the death of a detainee last June in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. He testified that his platoon sergeant ordered him to finish off the wounded man, but he intentionally missed.
Sgt. 1st Class Trey Corrales was acquitted of all charges last week in a separate court-martial.
Shore was serving a 120-day jail sentence. But late Thursday, the commander of the 25th Infantry Division based in Hawaii deferred the sentence until he decides on clemency.
The commander, Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek, has the authority to overturn all or parts of the jury's findings. He is expected to announce a ruling in the next few weeks, said Maj. Tage Rainsford, spokesman for the 25th Infantry Division.
Rainsford said Shore could return to the brig to finish out his sentence or he could be freed and have his rank restored. Shore was demoted from specialist to private.