CAMP PENDLETON - Jurors in the upcoming trial of a Marine corporal accused of killing an Iraqi civilian will be allowed to view computerized aerial maps from the popular Google Earth program to help them see the geographic layout of the scene, a military judge ruled Thursday.

"I believe these (images) may actually help the members understand what happened that night," Lt. Col. David M. Jones said.

Jones' ruling came during a hearing centered on pretrial issues for Cpl. Trent Thomas, one of eight Camp Pendleton troops accused in the April 26, 2006 slaying of Hashim Ibrahim Awad in the rural Iraqi village of Hamdania.

Taking the stand for about two hours Thursday was one of Thomas' co-defendants, Pvt. Robert Pennington, who was demoted in rank from lance corporal as punishment for his guilty plea to his role in the Awad incident. Pennington is also serving an eight-year prison sentence.

Pennington described for the judge the computerized map he had created, at the behest of prosecutors, of the area in which the events took place on the night of Awad's slaying.

The map, created using Google Earth, an Internet-based mapping system that uses satellite images, includes the palm grove in which the kidnapping and murder plan was first hatched. It also included other key sites involved, such as Awad's home and the spot where he was killed, about a mile down the road.

The map includes the paths that Pennington said he and some of his co-defendants - including Thomas - took as they walked before and after snatching Awad from his home.

Prosecutors say Thomas, Pennington and six other Camp Pendleton troops assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment plotted to drag Awad out of his home and shoot him, then staged the scene by framing him as an insurgent planting a bomb.

Thomas has pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, kidnapping, conspiracy and related offenses in the death of Awad. He also is charged with assault for the alleged beating of another Iraqi in Hamdania on April 10, 2006.

Five of the men from Thomas' squad reached plea agreements with prosecutors in the Awad incident, and were given jail terms ranging from 12 months to eight years.

Thomas' trial is set to begin on July 9. Two of his codefendants are also have trial dates set for this summer.

According to early testimony from Pennington and other co-defendants, the four highest-ranking of the eight men gathered in a palm grove, where they plotted to snatch another man by the name of Saleh Gowad from his home and kill him. Gowad, according to testimony, was a suspected insurgent.

The men went to Gowad's home but could not find him, so they headed next door and snatched Awad, according to testimony. The rest of the plan - to march the man to an old roadside bomb crater and kill him, then stage the scene to make it appear they'd stumbled across him planting a bomb -- remained the same.

In addition to Pennington, two more of Thomas' co-defendants - Pvt. John Jodka and Pvt. Jerry Shumate - are expected to testify today. It is unclear what specific issues they will be addressing when they take the stand today.

Contact staff writer Teri Figueroa at (760) 631-6624 or tfigueroa@nctimes.com.