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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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November 16th,
2006 - Marine Apologizes For Iraqi Civilian’s Death |
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Marine Apologizes For Iraqi
Civilian’s Death Lance Cpl. Tyler Jackson Pleads Guilty By 10News.com Posted: 10:53 am PST November 16, 2006 Oceanside, Calif. - A
23-year-old Marine awaiting sentencing in a war crimes case apologized
Thursday to the family of an Iraqi citizen killed April 26 and said he wished
he'd had the courage to stop it. Lance Cpl. Tyler Jackson
pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy and aggravated assault in connection
with the death of 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad near Hamdania. The Marine faces up to 15
years in custody, a dishonorable discharge and reduction to the lowest
military rank. During the court-martial,
Judge Joseph Lisiecki heard testimony from Jackson, his parents and a fellow
Marine who served with him. "I wish I'd had the
courage to prevent his death," Jackson told the military judge. Jackson said several times
that he wished he could take back what happened that day. The judge said he would
review all the evidence before deciding on a sentence for Jackson. In all, seven Marines and
Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Melson Bacos were charged with murder,
kidnapping and other charges in connection with Awad's death. Pfc. John Jodka, 20, of
Encinitas, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in
custody. He will be able to avoid a dishonorable discharge from the military
if he continues to cooperate with the government in its investigation of
Awad's death. Bacos pleaded guilty Oct. 6
to kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap and making false official statements and
was sentenced to one year in the brig. Lance Cpl. Jerry Shumate Jr.
is expected to plead guilty next week. Squad leader Sgt. Lawrence
G. Hutchins III and three other Marines, Lance Cpl. Robert Pennington, Cpl.
Trent D. Thomas and Cpl. Marshall Magincalda, are also charged in connection
with Awad's death. Bacos testified earlier that
the squad originally targeted a suspected terrorist who lived next door to
Awad but chose Awad instead when the original plan was foiled by the other
man's family. Jackson's version of events
differed slightly. He told a judge at an earlier hearing that Hutchins
thought Awad was responsible for setting up an explosive device that killed
several members of their platoon and thought there should be a plan to get
back at him. Everyone agreed, and on
April 26, several defendants headed toward a village, found Awad and escorted
him to an existing explosion hole, Jackson said. Hutchins reported to his
patrol base that the squad had spotted a man digging a hole for an explosive
device, Jackson said. He said the group then fired on the victim. Jackson said he fired his
rounds above Awad's head. Awad got up and attempted to move but was shot
several more times, the Marine said. Jackson said that he,
Shumate and Jodka then took Awad's body to an Iraqi police station. They
reported they'd all seen Awad digging on the side of the road and that their
actions were a "lawful military engagement," he said. Copyright 2006 by City Wire.
All rights reserved. External link:
http://www.10news.com/news/10336987/detail.html |