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US soldier gets life for murder of Iraq inmates
[Al Arabiya Latest] A senior U.S. soldier was jailed for life Thursday for the murder of four bound and blindfolded prisoners in Iraq two years ago, a court martial here said. Four Iraqi detainees, unarmed, handcuffed and blindfolded, were shot dead near a canal in Baghdad in March or April 2007. Four soldiers have already been convicted of crimes linked to their involvement in the incident.U.S. Master Sergeant John E. Hatley was also found guilty Wednesday of conspiracy to kill the unidentified men, but was acquitted of a fifth charge of premeditated murder and of obstruction of justice. He will be eligible for parole in 20 years, Hatley's defence lawyer David Court said Thursday. During the sentencing hearing, 40-year-old Hatley told an eight-man army panel that he respected their findings but recounted the stress of dealing with mounting American casualties at the hands of insurgents. "I understand your decision," he said. "I'm not perfect, I ain't no angel" the sergeant said, fighting back tears as he spoke of cleaning or "policing up the pieces of our soldiers" and friends following bomb and sniper attacks. Hatley was the highest ranking of three soldiers tried for killing the prisoners, who were shot "execution style," according to army prosecutors. The bodies, which witnesses said were dumped into a canal, were never found. Posted by: Fred 2009-04-17 |
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