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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings & Torture |
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February 18th,
2009 - Soldier Pleads Guilty to Assault in Iraq Death |
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Soldier Pleads
Guilty to Assault in Iraq Death By Brett Barrouquere Associated Press February 18, 2009 Fort Campbell, Ky. - An Army
staff sergeant who was facing a murder charge in the death of an Iraqi
detainee pleaded guilty to assault on Wednesday and received more than a
year's confinement. Staff Sgt. Hal M. Warner was
sentenced to 17 months' confinement, had his rank reduced to private and was
given a bad conduct discharge. He pleaded guilty to charges of assault,
maltreatment of a subordinate and making a false statement. Another soldier, 1st Lt.
Michael Behenna of Edmond, Okla., faces trial next week on a murder charge in
the death of detainee Ali Mansour Mohammed in May 2008. Prosecutors say
Behenna shot Mohammed, then used and incendiary grenade to burn the
detainee's body. Warner admitted Wednesday to
standing on the detainee's legs while he was defenseless during the assault
then days later helping strip Mohammed naked and leaving him in the desert.
Prosecutors say Behenna later shot the detainee. As part of his plea agreement,
Warner agreed to testify in any future cases related to the incident. One of
Warner's attorneys, Capt. Pete Madrinan, said Warner will testify next week
at Behenna's trial. Both men were assigned to
the 101st Airborne Division, based at the sprawling military post on the
Kentucky-Tennessee line. Capt. Meghan Poirier, one of
the prosecutors, told judge Col. Theodore Dixon that Warner humiliated
Mohammed in the days leading up to his death and that the actions hurt the
military's efforts to win over the Iraqi people. "Staff Sgt. Warner knew
what he was doing," Poirier said. "He knew he was doing it to a
person at his mercy." Madrinan said Warner's long
service record earned him a second chance. "On one occassion, on
his third tour in Iraq, Sgt. Warner lost sight of what he's supposed to
do," Madrinan said. Warner, 35, told Dixon he
could "be a good soldier again." "I know I need to be
punished," Warner said. "I should have been stronger. I know I
wasn't." Warner's sentence is less
severe than the six years confinement, demotion and dishonorable discharge
sought by prosecutors. Madrinan asked Dixon to sentence Warner to time
served, a loss of noncommissioned officer status and 120 days of hard labor. Warner will be given credit
for 59 days already served in confinement. Copyright © 2009 The
Associated Press. External link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jzuwkhrcOZ-H5K2HgCBMz-ICJ0nwD96EA23O1 |