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The War Profiteers - War Crimes, Kidnappings,
Torture and Big Money |
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August 3rd,
2008 - 2 U.S. Soldiers Face Murder Charges |
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2 U.S. Soldiers Face Murder
Charges By Associated Press August 3, 2008 Baghdad - Two U.S. soldiers
have been charged with premeditated murder in the shooting of an Iraqi
detainee north of Baghdad, the military said Saturday. Army Staff Sgt. Hal M.
Warner and 1st Lt. Michael C. Behenna were accused of shooting the detainee
"at or near" their forward operating base and then lying about it,
according to the military. Both also face charges of
assault, making a false official statement and obstruction of justice,
according to a statement. Warner faces an additional charge of accessory
after the fact, it said. The military said the slain
detainee, Ali Mansour Mohammed, was initially believed to have been released
from U.S. custody around May 16. But Warner and Behenna are
accused of killing him "by means of shooting him with a pistol,"
according to the charge specifications. Warner was formally charged
on July 13, and Behenna on July 31, the military said. The announcement said the
soldiers were assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, and were
serving at Forward Operating Base Summerall near the northern oil hub of
Baiji. Maj. Peggy Kageleiry, a U.S.
military spokeswoman in northern Iraq, said she could not release more
details surrounding the detainee's death because the investigation was
ongoing. But she provided the charge specifications. The hometowns and ages of
the two soldiers were not revealed. The military said the
potential punishment could include life imprisonment without parole,
depending on the results of the investigation. External link: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq3-2008aug03,0,4418703.story |