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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings & Torture |
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February 19th,
2009 - Soldier Confessed Killing Iraqi to Investigators News article from the
Associated Press |
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Soldier Confessed
Killing Iraqi to Investigators By George Frey Associated Press February 19, 2009 Vilseck, Germany - A U.S.
soldier confessed to military investigators that he shot a bound and
blindfolded Iraqi prisoner point-blank in the back of the head, according to
a video played at his murder trial Thursday Sgt. Michael Leahy, 28, told
the Germany-based investigators that after shooting the first prisoner, he
turned his 9mm pistol on another captive. "The detainee I shot
fell back on me," he said in the videotape of the January 2008
interrogation played at his trial in the Army's Rose Barracks' courtroom.
"I turned to the right and saw the other detainee flinch, and turn his
head after he heard the shot. My weapon was pointed toward him, my weapon was
anywhere from a foot to a couple of inches away. I hit him in the side of the
head, the face, anywhere from the ear forward." But the shot didn't kill the
second man, so Master Sgt. John Hatley, 40, finished him off with a shot to
the chest, Leahy said. "I'm ashamed of what
I've done," he said in the video, occasionally wiping tears from his eyes
and holding his face in his hands. "I don't consider myself a murderer.
I made a huge mistake. I'll accept the consequences." Leahy has pleaded not guilty
to charges of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder
and obstruction of justice in the deaths of a total of four Iraqi prisoners,
who were dumped in a Baghdad canal in 2007 after they were killed. Leahy is also being tried
for the alleged murder of another Iraqi who was shot while in his care as a
medic in January of 2007. The Illinois man faces a
possible life in prison and dishonorable discharge if convicted. Six soldiers, including
Leahy are accused of involvement in the slaying of the four prisoners
sometime between March 10 and April 16, 2007. All were with the 1st Battalion,
18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq,
which is now part of the Germany-based 172nd Infantry Brigade. Leahy, Hatley and Sgt. 1st
Class Joseph Mayo, 27, are accused of pulling the trigger. According to testimony at
the court-martial, which began Tuesday, at least four Iraqis were taken into
custody in spring 2007 after a shootout with a patrol that included five
other accused soldiers. The prisoners were taken to
the U.S. unit's operating base in Baghdad for questioning and processing
though there wasn't enough evidence to hold them for attacking the unit.
Later that night patrol members took the Iraqis to a remote area and shot
them in retribution for the attacks against the unit, according to testimony. Three soldiers are scheduled
for later courts-martial. Sgt. Charles Quigley, 28, of Providence, Rhode
Island, faces one charge of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder. Mayo
and Hatley are charged with premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit
premeditated murder, and obstruction of justice. Two more soldiers - Spc.
Steven Ribordy, 25, of Salina, Kansas, and Spc. Belmor Ramos, 23, of
Clearfield, Utah - pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit
premeditated murder. Copyright © 2009 The Associated
Press. External link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hYtcV7GUHRC88uGXnQ8Hl6I5lvbAD96EL93G0 GI testifies he saw Iraqi
detainee shot by soldier By Seth Robson Stars and Stripes February 19, 2009 Vilseck, Germany - A soldier
serving time for helping dump the bodies of four Iraqi detainees allegedly
executed by U.S. forces in 2007 said at a court-martial Wednesday that one of
the victims survived an initial shot to the head, only to be finished off by
the soldier’s first sergeant. Spc. Stephen A. Ribordy, of
Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, recounted the
incident during the court-martial of Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr. Leahy, 26, is facing charges
of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder, accessory
after the fact and obstruction of justice for his alleged role in two separate
incidents in which several Iraqi detainees were killed. Ribordy, 25, said Leahy told
him he walked up to the scene of the shootings and "one of the
individuals was still breathing and gurgling on the ground." Ribordy testified that he
saw 1st Sgt. John Hatley then shoot the man. Ribordy said Leahy later
told him to dispose of photos that Ribordy had taken of the detainees when
they were captured. "When Leahy told me to
get rid of the pictures, he told me he had shot two of the detainees,"
Ribordy said. Under cross-examination from
the defense attorney, Capt. James Hill, Ribordy revealed that the first time
he had mentioned Leahy’s statement to investigating officials was to the
prosecution last week at the Army detention center in Mannheim, Germany. "You told the [Criminal
Investigation Command] that you weren’t sure that anyone was even shot that
day," Hill said. He said Ribordy didn’t
mention the shooting during previous interviews with the defense counsel,
CID, other hearings on the charges or even at his own court-martial. However, Staff Sgt. John
Sellers, who also served with Company A in Iraq, testified Wednesday that
while they were still in Iraq, Ribordy had told him about Hatley finishing
off the detainees. Ribordy, who pleaded guilty
to being an accessory to murder after the fact, and another soldier, Spc.
Belmor Ramos, 23, also of Company A, received prison sentences for their
roles in the deaths of the four Iraqis in March or April 2007. Hatley, 40, and another
alleged shooter, Sgt. Joseph Mayo, 27, face charges of premeditated murder,
conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and obstruction of justice. Leahy’s court-martial is
expected to continue until Friday. External link: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60808 |