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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings & Torture |
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November 20th,
2009 - US to Drop Shooting Case Against Blackwater Guard |
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US to Drop Shooting
Case Against Blackwater Guard By Matt Apuzzo Associated Press November 20, 2009 Washington - The Justice
Department intends to drop manslaughter and weapons charges against one of
the Blackwater Worldwide security guards involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad
shooting, prosecutors said in court documents Friday. The shooting in busy Nisoor
Square left 17 Iraqis dead and inflamed anti-American sentiment abroad. It
touched off a string of investigations that ultimately led the State
Department to cancel the company's lucrative contract to guard diplomats in
Iraq. Iraqis have said they're
watching closely to see how the U.S. judicial system handles the five men
accused of unleashing an unprovoked attack on civilians with machine guns and
grenades. The court documents filed
Friday say only that prosecutors have asked that the case against Nicholas
Slatten of Sparta, Tenn., be dropped. Prosecutors filed the
request in a way that gives them the ability to file new charges against
Slatten later. There is no indication in the documents whether they intend
to. Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said Friday he could not say
whether new charges would be filed. The request itself was
sealed, so it's unclear why the case was being dropped. But it could be a bad
sign for the government. After the shooting, some guards spoke to
investigators under the promise of immunity. Prosecutors have been arguing
behind closed doors that the immunity deal did not taint the case. Five guards, all military
veterans, face charges in the shooting that left 17 Iraqis dead. Prosecutors
say the shooting was unprovoked but Blackwater says its convoy was ambushed.
A sixth pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Slatten's attorney, Thomas
Connolly, said he could not comment on the filing but said Slatten has
maintained his innocence all along. External link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/20/AR2009112003169.html |