Court Roundup

Washington
Court rejects an appeal from Army officer in murder
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected an Army officer’s appeal of his conviction for killing an unarmed Iraqi prison detainee in 2008.
The justices on Monday let stand a divided decision by the military’s highest appeals court that upheld the conviction of 1st Lt. Michael Behenna for unpremeditated murder in a combat zone. Behenna is serving a 15-year prison sentence at a military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
There is no dispute that Behenna was supposed to take the man home, but instead took him to a secluded railroad culvert, stripped him naked and shot him twice after interrogating him at gunpoint about an April 2008 roadside bombing that killed two men under Behenna’s command.
Behenna says he acted in self-defense.

Massachusetts
Captured 2 years ago, Bulger about to face jurors
BOSTON (AP) — Nearly 16 years on the run and two years after his arrest on charges he played a role in 19 murders, James “Whitey” Bulger is about to face a jury.
A judge held a final pretrial conference on Monday before jury selection begins Tuesday.