Lawyer: U.S. soldier needs hope of parole

OKINAWA, Japan, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A U.S. serviceman who pleaded guilty to killing a member of his squadron in Japan shouldn't serve a life sentence without hope of parole, his lawyer said.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nicholas Cron, 26, avoided a death sentence when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and murder charges for the killing a year ago of Tech. Sgt. Curtis Eccleston, Stars and Stripes reported Wednesday.

Cron went to Eccleston's apartment in the middle of the night and slashed his throat with a box cutter and hunting knife.

He accepted a sentence of life in prison for the crime but the question of whether he can ever be paroled remains will be decided Thursday by a military judge.

During closing arguments, prosecuting attorney Maj. Matthew Talcott portrayed Cron as someone who is "skillful and powerful at lying" and said he should never be paroled.

Cron's defense attorney, Air Force Maj. Nicholas McCue, said Cron may deserve parole some day and the possibility should be left open.