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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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February 12th,
2008 - Evan Vela’s Dad Responds to His Son’s Sentence |
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Evan Vela’s Dad Responds to
His Son’s Sentence By Aaron Kunz KPVI.com February 12, 2008 One day after St. Anthony
sniper Evan Vela was sentenced to ten years in prison for the charge of
murder, his dad spoke to us this afternoon for the first time following the
outcome of his son's legal battle in Baghdad. Despite the fact Evan's dad,
Curtis Carnahan, is angry over what he calls a political effort to place
blame, he is focusing on the positive. In this case, the fact his son is
returning to the states within the next month. Aaron Kunz has that story
tonight. Sgt. Evan Vela didn't show
much emotion at his sentencing on Sunday in Baghdad - surprised that he was
found guilty of murder, making a false official statement, and of conduct
prejudicial to good order and discipline. Sgt. Vela was handed down a 10-year
prison sentence, a dishonorable discharge, and has to forfeit all pay and
allowances from the U.S. Army. Still, his dad Curtis
Carnahan says it wasn't the maximum allowed and that is a small victory. Curtis Carnahan: "Based
on the outcome of yesterday's decision, even though it went against us and he
was found guilty by the military panel, the sentence that he got and the
actual number of years he might end up serving is considerably less than the
government was offering seven months ago ... So, in a way, we feel like we've
won something." Evan, a native of St.
Anthony was flown to Kuwait today - awaiting transfer to Fort Leavenworth, a
military prison in Kansas to serve out the rest of his time. Curtis Carnahan: "His
spirits are actually pretty good... He, you know, obviously is disappointed
that he is going to have spend a little bit of time in Leavenworth but his
spirits were good. His attitude is good." Evan's dad believes the
government is punishing his son because he wouldn't testify against two other
soldiers involved in the case. Those two soldiers were eventually acquitted
of the murder charges. Curtis Carnahan: "And
Evan would not do that for the government and that is what upset the
government to the point where they had to have somebody take the fall for
this alleged killing. And Evan was the only man left standing. He was in the
crosshairs." Carnahan says his son did
not get a fair trial in Iraq, citing a political need to place blame, and he
is hoping that an appeals process in the U.S. could overturn the ten-year
sentence. Curtis Carnahan: "Maybe
the agenda isn't quite so political as it is here. This verdict should be
overturned and he should be out within two years easily. That is what our
feeling is here today." Carnahan is flying back to
the U.S. this week but that won't prevent him from still fighting for his
son. Curtis Carnahan: "And
we will not stop fighting for the defense of my son until he is free because
he is not guilty despite the outcome and the verdict that was handed down
yesterday by the military panel. He is not guilty for doing what he had to do." Evan Vela could spend as
much as 30 days in Kuwait before he is shipped to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.
His family says the appeals process will not begin for at least eight months.
In the military, an appeal is automatically filed for a soldier who is convicted
of a crime. External link: http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=7856722&nav=menu546_1 |