USA - U.S. Military. The Navy Court of Appeals overturned the death sentence of Kenneth G. Parker, black

The Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals in Washington overturned the death sentence of former Lance Corporal Kenneth G. Parker, black, the only Marine on the military's death row. The court also overturned one of Parker’s two murder convictions after finding that his guilt was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Parker was convicted in July 1993 at Camp Lejeune, N.C., of being the triggerman in two killings: the March 26, 1992 murder of Lance Cpl. Rodney L. Page, white, in Jacksonville, N.C., and the killing of Lance Cpl. Christopher Q. James, white, who he shot four days later. Judge J.A. Maksym, while condemning Parker's actions, said, “We have upset aspects of this verdict and will set aside the death penalty due to numerous and substantive procedural and legal failures at trial.” Parker is now facing a life sentence without parole at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Parker's co-defendant, Pvt. Wade Walker, had also been sentenced to death but on February 19, 2010 (see) had his sentence reduced to life. Since 1984, 11 out of 16 military death sentences have been overturned. The last military execution occurred in 1961. Of the 11 military death sentences that have completed direct appeal, 9 (82%) have been reversed.