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The
War Profiteers - War Crimes, Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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The Iskandariya Killings |
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Newest Media Report: The Six-Letter Word That
Changes Everything
(11/6/2008/Esquire) Newest Military Report: Soldier Found
Guilty in Courts Martial (10/2/2008/Public
Affairs Office, Camp Victory, Iraq) |
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Background -
April/June 2007 “A U.S. soldier testified Thursday that he was
ordered to shoot an unarmed Iraqi man, then his sergeant laughed and told the
trooper to finish the job as the man convulsed on the ground. Sgt. Evan Vela
cried during his testimony in the court-martial of Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval, of
Laredo, Texas. Sandoval is on trial for allegedly killing Iraqis and trying
to cover up the deaths by planting weapons at the scene. […] “Prosecutors claim the May 11 case involved the
killing an Iraqi man with a 9mm pistol, placing an AK-47 rifle by his body
and failing to ensure humane treatment of a detainee - the victim. Vela said
Staff Sgt. Michael Hensley of Candler, N.C, told him to shoot the man,
although he was not armed and had his hands in the air when he approached the
soldiers. […] ‘He asked me if I was ready. I had the pistol out. I heard the
word shoot. I don't remember pulling the trigger. It took me a second to
realize that the shot came from the pistol in my hand,’ he said, crying and
speaking barely above a whisper. […]” Excerpt
of an Associated Press article
from September 27th, 2007. |
The victim Genei al-Janabi |
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June 11th, 2008 - The Six-Letter Word That Changes
Everything 1 feature article
by Esquire May 9th, 2008 - Killing by the Numbers 1 feature article
by Salon magazine April 4th, 2008 - Idaho Lawmakers Appeal for
Clemency for Soldier Convicted in Iraq 1 news
article by the Associated Press February 12th, 2008 - Evan Vela’s Dad Responds to His
Son’s Sentence 1 news
article by KPVI.com February 10th, 2008 - US Soldier Convicted of Killing
Iraqi 2 news
articles by the Associated Press |
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Charges & Sentences at Military
Tribunal |
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Defendant |
Pleading |
Original Main Charges |
Sentences |
Sentencing Dates |
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Michael A. Hensley |
not guilty |
premeditated murder |
135 days confinement |
November 8th, 2007 |
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Evan Vela |
not guilty |
premeditated murder |
10 years confinement |
February 10th, 2008 |
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Jorge G. Sandoval |
not guilty |
premeditated murder |
5 months confinement |
September 29th, 2007 |
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Scenes from the Military Trial Proceedings |
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Evan Vela |
Mustafa Ghani
al-Janabi |
Evan Vela |
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February 10th, 2008 - Soldier Found Guilty in
Courts Martial Press Release by
the Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory, Multi-National Corps, Iraq “[…] Sgt. Evan Vela was found guilty Feb. 10 on one
specification of unpremeditated murder during a general courts martial at
Camp Liberty Courthouse. Vela, a Soldier in 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne,
was on trial for the murder of an Iraqi man as part of operations May 11 in
Jurf as Sakhr. “Vela was found guilty under Article 134 of the
Uniform Code of Military Justice for conduct prejudicial to good order and
discipline - wrongfully placing an AK-47 on the remains of a deceased person.
He was also found guilty under UCMJ Article 107 for making a false official
statement. The proceedings are currently in the sentencing phase. […]” July 2nd,
2007 - Additional Soldier Charged with
Murder Press Release by U.S. Central Command Baghdad - A U.S. Soldier has been charged with
murder in the death of an Iraqi citizen. The Soldier is the third to be named
in an investigation of three alleged unjustified killings during recent
military operations in Iraq. These charges are accusations of wrongdoing. The
Soldier is presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt of any alleged offense. The Soldier is assigned to Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade
(Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska. The
unit is currently attached to Multi-National Division-Center, Iraq. The
alleged offense occurred between April and June 2007 in the vicinity of
Iskandariyah, Iraq. Sgt. Evan Vela, of Phoenix, Idaho, is charged with
one specification alleging premeditated murder, one specification alleging he
wrongfully placed a weapon with the remains of a deceased Iraqi, one
specification of making a false official statement, and one specification
alleging obstruction of justice. Vela's charges were preferred July 1. He was
also placed in pre-trial confinement July 1. Murder charges were previously announced for Staff
Sgt. Michael A. Hensley and Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval, Jr., in connection with
similar incidents. The investigation by Unites States Criminal
Investigation Division resulted from reports of the alleged wrongdoing made
by fellow Soldiers to military authorities. The investigation continues. June 30th,
2007 - Soldiers Charged with Premeditated Murder Press Release by U.S. Central Command Baghdad - Two US Army Soldiers have been charged
with the premeditated murders of three Iraqi nationals in three separate
incidents. Charges were announced
today. These charges are merely an accusation of
wrongdoing. The soldiers are presumed
innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of
any alleged offense. The soldiers are assigned to Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501 Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade
(Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska. The unit is currently attached to
Multi-National Division - Center, Iraq.
Offenses are alleged to have occurred between April and June, 2007, in
the vicinity of Iskandariyah, Iraq.
The two soldiers are charged as follows: Staff Sergeant Michael A. Hensley, Candler, North
Carolina - three specifications alleging premeditated murder, three
specifications alleging obstruction of justice, and three specifications of
wrongfully placing weapons with the remains of deceased Iraqis. The Charges were preferred on June 28,
2007, and SSG Hensley was placed into pre-trial confinement in Kuwait on June
28, 2007. Specialist Jorge G Sandoval, Jr., Laredo, Texas, one
specification alleging premeditated murder and one specification alleging he
wrongfully placed a weapon with the remains of a deceased Iraqi. Spec. Sandoval's charges were preferred on
June 28, 2007. Specialist Sandoval was apprehended on June 26,
2007, while home in Texas, and transferred to pre-trial confinement in Kuwait
on June 29, 2007. The investigation by the United States Army Criminal
Investigation Division resulted from reports of the alleged wrongdoing made
by fellow soldiers to military authorities.
The investigation continues. |
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War Scenes from Iskandariya |
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Image 1 |
Image 2 |
Image 3 |
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Background 1) The killing in question: Genei Nasir Khudair
al-Janabi, photographed shortly after he was killed by the snipers of the
1-501. - May 11th, 2007 - U.S. Army/Esquire; Scenes from the Military Trial
Proceedings 1)
U.S. Army Sgt. Evan Vela waits for the verdict outside the courthouse in Camp
Liberty in Baghdad, Iraq. Sgt. Vela, an Army sniper was sentenced to 10 years
in prison for murder of an Iraqi civilian. Vela, 24, was found guilty of
murder without premeditation, aiding and abetting in the planting of an AK-47
on the dead man’s body and of later lying to military investigators about the
incident. - February 10th, 2008 - Bradley Brooks/Associated Press; 2)
Mustafa Ghani al-Janabi, son of the Iraqi man killed by U.S. Army Sgt. Evan
Vela, stands outside the courthouse in Camp Liberty in Baghdad, Iraq.
February 10th, 2008 - Bradley Brooks/Associated Press; 3) U.S. Army Sgt. Evan Vela waits for the verdict
outside the courthouse in Camp Liberty in Baghdad, Iraq. - February 10th,
2008. - Bradley Brooks/Associated Press; Scenes from Iskandariya 1)
U.S. Army Sgt. Brince Conerly, left, team leader, and Spc. Charles Balance,
driver, 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 155th
Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard, retrieve supplies from
their Humvee while other members of the platoon provide security in
Iskandariya, Iraq. - May 19th, 2005 - Matthew Clifton/U.S.
Army/Defend America Website; 2)
U.S. Army soldiers from 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st
Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National
Guard, quickly review their mission before entering a village to gather
intelligence information from local residents in Iskandariya, Iraq. - May 19th,
2005 - Matthew Clifton/U.S. Army/Defend America Website; 3) U.S. Army soldiers from 3rd Platoon,
Company A, 1st Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team,
Mississippi Army National Guard, question an Iraqi citizen about suspected
insurgent activity in the area in Iskandariya, Iraq. - May 19th,
2005 - Matthew Clifton/U.S. Army/Defend America Website; |
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Back to the Second
Gulf War/Iraq Invasion II |
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