JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The family of a civilian contractor who died on Guantanamo Bay has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a former commander of the Naval base. In January 2020, he was convicted on federal charges including obstruction of justice and making false statements related to Tur’s death. AdRELATED: Ex-Gitmo commander reports to prisonHe was not criminally charged or tried for anything related to Tur’s death. The civil lawsuit notes that the burden for a civil wrongful death claim is instead a “preponderance of the evidence,” so they only have to prove Nettleton’s culpability “is more likely than not.”Against Nettleton, the civil lawsuit claims include wrongful death, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, failure to render aid and tortious interference with a dead body. “We believe that if he does invoke his Fifth (Amendment rights) in this civil trial, then we will win on the wrongful death and the other causes of action we have against him.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A retired Navy captain convicted of lying and obstructing justice in the investigation into a 2015 death at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay reported to federal prison this week. Nettleton and Tur, 42, had a fight two nights before the Coast Guard recovered Tur’s body. Prosecutors believe the fight spilled over into Nettleton’s home, where Tur’s blood was found in the living room. An autopsy found that Tur drowned, though a manner of death was not determined. Federal prisoners typically only serve about 85% of their sentences in prison.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former commander of the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison for interfering with an investigation into the death of a civilian with whom the commander had fought and argued over his affair with the man's wife. Nettleton had commanded the base since June 2012, but not the detention center where suspected terrorists are held. Tur's wife confirmed the affair during her testimony, authorities said. On the night of his disappearance, Tur confronted the commander and Tur's wife in front of witnesses at a party at the on-base nightclub. Later that night, Tur went to Nettleton's residence, where the two men fought.

“There is no question that John R. Nettleton (”Defendant") misled, concealed, and lied about facts he knew regarding the disappearance and death of Christopher Tur (“Tur”)," the memo states. “I’d like to apologize to my Navy and Marine Corps friends, and I offer my sincere condolences to the Tur family. “Earlier disclosure might have provided a clearer understanding of his (Tur’s) death,” Corrigan said. Even following Tur’s death, Captain Nettleton continued his obstruction, which the jury found to be criminal. Tur’s family members said they are considering civil action against Nettleton in Tur’s death.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Justice has recommended that retired Navy Capt. John Nettleton be sentenced to more than three years in prison on charges stemming from the 2015 death of a civilian employee at Guantanamo Bay – the base Nettleton commanded. Nettleton and Tur were in a fight two nights before the Coast Guard found Tur’s body floating in the bay. In a sentencing memo filed Thursday, the DOJ recommended Nettleton serve between 37 and 46 months. “There is no question that John R. Nettleton (“Defendant”) misled, concealed, and lied about facts he knew regarding the disappearance and death of Christopher Tur (“Tur”),” the memo states.

Christopher Tur, 42, was found drowned near the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in 2015, after an alcohol-fueled fight with the commander, Capt. John Nettleton. It was a moment Tur’s family had been waiting for. Family of Christopher Tur sits down with News4Jax following the conviction of a former Navy captain accused of concealing facts following his death. Their attorney said Monday he’s planning to sue those involved, including Nettleton, Tur’s wife and the base’s public affairs officer.

John Nettleton on charges stemming from the 2015 death of a civilian employee at Guantanamo Bay -- the base Nettleton commanded. The jury of two men and ten women found Nettleton guilty on six of eight charges. Nettleton and Tur were in a fight two nights before the Coast Guard found Tur’s body floating in the bay. Prosecutors believed his alleged deception was fueled by a secret Nettleton was trying to hide — an affair with Tur’s wife. Nettleton went on to say he would not continue the interview if those are the allegations.

Nettleton and Tur got into a fight two nights before the Coast Guard found Tur’s body floating in the bay. Nettleton has not been charged in connection with Tur’s death, but prosecutors believe his alleged deception was fueled by a secret Nettleton was trying to hide — an affair with Tur’s wife. During testimony, Nettleton admitted he slept with Tur’s wife in Jacksonville in 2014. In the video, investigators inform Nettleton he is suspected of adultery and involvement in Tur’s death. Tur’s death remains classified as undetermined.

Nettleton testified that following a night of drinking at a nearby bar, he returned to his home and talked to his daughter. Following a base-wide search, Tur was found floating in the bay nearly two days later. “If I would have called security on Chris, it would have been one of those things where he would have been fired,” Nettleton testified. After a lunch break Tuesday afternoon, Nettleton testified about the hours that followed the fight. “I could have done a better job that night," Nettleton said.

The trial of the former commander at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base will resume Monday. It’s for John Nettleton, who’s accused of obstructing justice and concealing facts into the death of 42-year-old Christopher Tur, a Marine Corps veteran who worked as a civilian on base. Defense lawyers will likely call witnesses in federal court for Nettleton after prosecutors spent much of last week laying out their case. And you have prosecution and defense thinking jury with 11 women and one man is going to be a good jury for both sides. One side is clearly wrong.”Sullivan suspects Nettleton will take the stand in his own defense, but Nettleton has yet to say if that will happen.

John Nettleton was charged after Christopher Tur, a civilian contractor, was found dead at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Cuba -- the base where Nettleton was the commanding officer. Federal investigators say, Nettleton and Tur were arguing over an alleged affair between Nettleton and Tur’s wife the night before Tur’s body was found in water on the base. The cause of Tur’s death was determined to be a drowning, but the manner of death was unknown. Tur’s family released a statement Monday morning saying:“It has been five years since we lost him and we have been in the dark, seeking answers since then. At trial, we are expected to learn more and hope a jury holds John Nettleton accountable for his deceit and obstruction of justice.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The federal trial for a Jacksonville Navy captain accused of lying during the investigation into the disappearance and death of a Marine Corps veteran in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, nearly five years ago, is set to begin with jury selection on Monday. Judge Timothy Corrigan said he would hear arguments on the matter next week if the defense decided to go in that direction. Defense attorneys expressed concerns to Corrigan during a hearing last month since Nettleton is not accused of homicide. They said they were concerned prosecutors would try to infer to the jury that Nettleton had a role in Tur’s death. When the jury selection process begins Monday, Judge Corrigan is allowing Nettleton’s attorneys to check out social media profiles for potential jurors and look at anything they have posted that can be seen by the public.