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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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August 6th, 2004 - Hawai’i Soldier
Convicted in Killing of Iraqi Civilian |
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Hawai’i Soldier Convicted in
Killing of Iraqi Civilian By Peter Boylan The Honolulu Advertiser Friday, August 6, 2004 Pfc. Edward L. Richmond Jr.,
a Schofield Barracks soldier who shot an unarmed cowherder in the back of the
head, yesterday became the first U.S. soldier convicted in the death of an
Iraqi civilian during Operation Enduring Freedom. Richmond, 21, was convicted
of involuntary manslaughter by a military court-martial, sentenced to three
years in jail and dishonorably discharged from the Army. "My husband is taking
it hard, and so am I. We're trying to be strong for our son," Richmond's
mother, Darce Richmond, said yesterday in a telephone interview from her home
in Gonzales, La. "I still stand by him, but it is out of my hands. Maybe
we can get something lessened (on appeal), and, if not, we'll survive it for
three years and support him." During the final day of his
court-martial, Richmond admitted that he wanted to kill the Iraqi, Army
officials said. The government's key
witness, Sgt. Jeffrey Waruch, testified Wednesday that he and Richmond saw
Muhamad Husain Kadir about an hour before the Feb. 28 shooting as their unit
was conducting a raid in Kadir's village. Waruch also testified that Kadir
didn't look suspicious, nor did he appear to have a weapon, the Army said. Waruch testified that he and
Richmond were ordered by radio to detain all of the men of Kadir's village.
He said that when they approached Kadir to flex-cuff him, the man resisted. Waruch said that once Kadir
was handcuffed, he began to lead him away and Kadir stumbled. Waruch then testified that
Richmond shot Kadir in the back of the head from about six feet away, the
Army said. Two government witnesses,
both unidentified by the Army, said they heard Richmond talk about wanting to
kill an Iraqi. The first testified that
Richmond requested to shoot Kadir well before the radio message to detain men
from the village. The second testified he also had heard Richmond talk about
wanting to kill an Iraqi. Richmond claimed that he
never saw Kadir handcuffed and that he shot him in defense of Waruch. The government countered
that Richmond admitted he never saw Kadir with a weapon, the Army said. The
Army also said Richmond admitted asking to shoot Kadir. A panel of five officers and
five enlisted men deliberated 90 minutes before convicting Richmond on the
reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter in the killing of Kadir, who died
near Taal Al Jal. Richmond originally was
charged with unpremeditated murder, and a conviction on that charge would
have resulted in a mandatory term of life in prison with the possibility of
parole. As part of his sentence,
Richmond also will forfeit his pay and will be demoted. He is the third U.S.
soldier charged with murder during the war in Iraq, the Army said. Richmond is with his father,
Edward Sr., in Tikrit, Iraq, and will not be confined until after he is taken
to Kuwait, his mother said. She said her son will remain in Kuwait for as
long as a month before being transferred to a U.S. military prison. The appeal process started
immediately, she said, and she is not sure when her husband will come home. Richmond said her son said,
"'I was going to be in the Army for three more years anyway.'" Darce Richmond hopes her son
will be eligible for early parole. She said she is saddened by the fact that
when he gets out, he will be a convicted felon with a dishonorable discharge
on his record. Richmond is assigned to
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, at Schofield
Barracks. He will be taken to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait to await transport to
prison. External link: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Aug/06/ln/ln07a.html |