Marine Awaits Sentencing in Murder Plot

Marine Cpl. Trent D. Thomas is seen in this Nov 14, 2006 file photo, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. A military jury on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, convicted Thomas of conspiring to murder an Iraqi man in a bungled attempt to abduct and kill a suspected insurgent in Hamdania. (AP Photo/Chris Park, File) (Chris Park - AP)

Thomas said he was using the time in the brig to take correspondence courses and learned to play the piano for Sunday church services.

"I pray, I read, I do secret counseling with people for relationship problems," he said, noting that the counseling had to be secret because of restrictions on prisoners assuming leadership roles in the brig.

Earlier in the day, Thomas' sister testified about their difficult upbringing in the St. Louis area. The Marine's wife, Erica, also spoke, saying that she wanted her husband out of the brig.

"I would like him to come home," she said.

Thomas, of Madison, Ill., was the senior corporal in the squad and a fire team leader and the first to take his case to trial in the death of Awad. Four other Marines and the sailor pleaded guilty to reduced charges in exchange for their testimony, each receiving between one and eight years in the brig. Two of the Marines face trial.

Thomas agreed in January to plead guilty to unpremeditated murder, kidnapping, conspiracy and other charges. He stunned the court by withdrawing his guilty plea on the eve of sentencing in February.

The final terms of Thomas' punishment will be subject to review by Lt. Gen. James Mattis, the commanding general overseeing the case.

Courts-martial have been scheduled for the two Marines remaining in the case _ Cpl. Marshall L. Magincalda on Friday and of squad leader Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III next week.