VILSECK, Germany - A U.S. soldier went on trial in a military court Tuesday on charges of murder for his alleged involvement in killing four Iraqi prisoners who were bound, blindfolded, shot in the head and dumped in a Baghdad canal in 2007.
Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr., 26, of Lockport, Illinois, is also charged with conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and obstruction of justice. He faces a possible life in prison and dishonorable discharge if convicted at the court-martial convened at the military's Rose Barracks Courthouse.
Leahy
is one of seven soldiers accused of involvement in the slaying of the 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.
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 and were sentenced to prison. Both men agreed to testify against Leahy and three others.
In testimony during trials and preliminary hearings last year, witnesses offered various versions of an incident in which at least four Iraqis were taken into custody after a shootout with a patrol that included all of the 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, according to testimony.
Later that night, witnesses said patrol members took the Iraqis to a remote area and shot them in retribution for the attacks against their unit.
Three other soldiers are scheduled for courts-martial. Sgt. Charles Quigley, 28, of Providence, Rhode Island, faces one charge of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder.
Sgt. Joseph Mayo, 27, is charged with premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder, and obstruction of justice. Sgt. John Hatley, 40, faces charges of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and obstruction of justice. The Army has not provided a hometown for Mayo or Hatley.
Another soldier initially accused of having been involved in the incident, Staff Sgt. Jess Cunningham, 27, of Bakersfield, California, had charges of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder dropped by the Army last week.
Leahy and Hatley also face charges, including murder, for a separate incident in January 2007. The Army has provided no information on that event.
Source: Star Tribune
Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr., 26, of Lockport, Illinois, is also charged with conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and obstruction of justice. He faces a possible life in prison and dishonorable discharge if convicted at the court-martial convened at the military's Rose Barracks Courthouse.
Leahy
is one of seven soldiers accused of involvement in the slaying of the 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.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 and were sentenced to prison. Both men agreed to testify against Leahy and three others.In testimony during trials and preliminary hearings last year, witnesses offered various versions of an incident in which at least four Iraqis were taken into custody after a shootout with a patrol that included all of the 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, according to testimony.
Later that night, witnesses said patrol members took the Iraqis to a remote area and shot them in retribution for the attacks against their unit.
Three other soldiers are scheduled for courts-martial. Sgt. Charles Quigley, 28, of Providence, Rhode Island, faces one charge of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder.
Sgt. Joseph Mayo, 27, is charged with premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder, and obstruction of justice. Sgt. John Hatley, 40, faces charges of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and obstruction of justice. The Army has not provided a hometown for Mayo or Hatley.
Another soldier initially accused of having been involved in the incident, Staff Sgt. Jess Cunningham, 27, of Bakersfield, California, had charges of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder dropped by the Army last week.
Leahy and Hatley also face charges, including murder, for a separate incident in January 2007. The Army has provided no information on that event.
Source: Star Tribune
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