Dave M. Santos, the father of Marine Cpl. Dave Michael M. Santos, said in a telephone interview yesterday they were looking for a lawyer.
Santos said they will not stop until they find justice for his son who was fatally stabbed by another U.S. servicemember in Helmand, Afghanistan.
Corporal Santos would have turned 22 last May 17.
“The only possible thing we can do right now is bring it to the civilian court,” his father said.
The family will start a rosary tonight at Corporal Santos’ grave at the San Jose cemetery on July 16 to mark the first anniversary of the young Marine’s death.
“My mission is to find closure to the case and seek justice for my son. That is what I promised him when he was buried last year,” Dave M. Santos said.
“But I have to ask for his forgiveness because I did not get the right answer for him,” he added.
He and his family expected the military court to find the defendant, Cpl. William Dalton, guilty of second-degree murder for which he was supposed to get 10 years in prison.
But during the trial in Camp Lejeune in North Carolina last week, Dalton was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter only and was sentenced to five years imprisonment.
The verdict, Dave M. Santos said, hurts him and his family.
In a separate interview, Rep. Teresita A. Santos, the slain corporal’s auntie, said her nephew’s parents eagerly waited for the verdict and hoped that the accused would serve a long time in prison.
Corporal Santos was a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. He is survived by his child and wife.
