Wednesday, June 21, 2006
News RhetIraq: Murder Accused of Servicemen in Iraq
Source: Los Angeles Times
Quotes: From article titled, "Servicemen to Face Charges in Iraqi Civilian Deaths"
Eight U.S. servicemen are expected to face charges, including kidnapping, conspiracy and murder in connection with the death of an Iraqi civilian, officials said this morning.
The Marine Corps has scheduled a news conference at Camp Pendleton for later today, where the charges against seven Marines and one sailor are expected to be announced.
All are from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
The charges stem from an incident on April 26 in Hamandiya, Iraq. U.S. forces allegedly broke into a house and dragged out an unarmed 52-year-old man.
The man was killed. According to officials, an AK-47 and a shovel were left near the body to make it appear that he was an insurgent caught digging a hole to place a roadside bomb.
Defense attorneys have suggested that relatives of the slain Iraqi may have concocted the story in hopes of getting money from the United States. The military has dispensed millions of dollars to Iraqis who have lost family members or had property destroyed.
The Hamandiya case comes amid a continuing investigation into killings by Marines of 24 Iraqis, including women and children, in the insurgent stronghold of Haditha on Nov. 19.
It also comes in the same week as the military announced that three U.S. Army soldiers were charged with premeditated murder in connection with the killing of three Iraqi detainees, as well as with threatening the life of a fellow soldier, who they feared would challenge their accounts of the deaths.
An investigation by a two-star Army general has now concluded that the Marines killed the 24 without provocation and that officers were negligent in not demanding a full investigation before Time magazine reporters began its inquiry.
Quotes: From article titled, "Servicemen to Face Charges in Iraqi Civilian Deaths"
Eight U.S. servicemen are expected to face charges, including kidnapping, conspiracy and murder in connection with the death of an Iraqi civilian, officials said this morning.
The Marine Corps has scheduled a news conference at Camp Pendleton for later today, where the charges against seven Marines and one sailor are expected to be announced.
All are from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
The charges stem from an incident on April 26 in Hamandiya, Iraq. U.S. forces allegedly broke into a house and dragged out an unarmed 52-year-old man.
The man was killed. According to officials, an AK-47 and a shovel were left near the body to make it appear that he was an insurgent caught digging a hole to place a roadside bomb.
Defense attorneys have suggested that relatives of the slain Iraqi may have concocted the story in hopes of getting money from the United States. The military has dispensed millions of dollars to Iraqis who have lost family members or had property destroyed.
The Hamandiya case comes amid a continuing investigation into killings by Marines of 24 Iraqis, including women and children, in the insurgent stronghold of Haditha on Nov. 19.
It also comes in the same week as the military announced that three U.S. Army soldiers were charged with premeditated murder in connection with the killing of three Iraqi detainees, as well as with threatening the life of a fellow soldier, who they feared would challenge their accounts of the deaths.
An investigation by a two-star Army general has now concluded that the Marines killed the 24 without provocation and that officers were negligent in not demanding a full investigation before Time magazine reporters began its inquiry.
