US Soldier Pleads Not Guilty to Iraq Murders
Officials of American-led forces said soldiers killed 26 militants in a raid in Sadr City Saturday, but some residents said civilians were killed.26 September 2007
Baghdad: A US soldier pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of killing Iraqis and trying to cover it up by planting weapons on their bodies.
Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval, of Laredo, Texas, has been charged with premeditated murder, wrongfully placing weapons with the remains of the Iraqis and obstructing justice. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
Military prosecutors said the deaths occurred separately in April and May near Iskandariyah, a mostly Sunni Arab city 50 kilometres south of Baghdad.
The investigation began after military authorities received reports of alleged wrongdoing from fellow soldiers, the Army has said.
"War in Iraq is hell, defense attorney Capt. Craig Drummond said in his opening statement. "The enemy does not always show itself. The enemy of this war attacks, hides, then attacks again."
Sandoval faces five charges, including an April 27 murder of an unknown Iraqi male, placing a detonation wire on his body, premeditated murder of another Iraqi male with a 9mm pistol on May 11, placing an AK-47 rifle on his body and failing to ensure humane treatment of a detainee -the victim.
Prosecutor Capt. Sarah Rukowski told the court that it must decide "what was in the accused's mind when he shot an unknown man cutting grass" and killed another "with a
9mm pistol from a few inches away."
Wearing his military uniform, Sandoval stood with his two defense attorneys to enter his not guilty plea during the opening day of a court-martial on a US base west of Baghdad.
Also charged in the case are Sgt. Evan Vela of Rigby, Idaho, and Staff Sgt. Michael Hensley of Candler, North Carolina. They are part of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.
Sandoval was arrested in June while on a two-week leave visiting his family.
Baghdad: A US soldier pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of killing Iraqis and trying to cover it up by planting weapons on their bodies.
Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval, of Laredo, Texas, has been charged with premeditated murder, wrongfully placing weapons with the remains of the Iraqis and obstructing justice. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
Military prosecutors said the deaths occurred separately in April and May near Iskandariyah, a mostly Sunni Arab city 50 kilometres south of Baghdad.
The investigation began after military authorities received reports of alleged wrongdoing from fellow soldiers, the Army has said.
"War in Iraq is hell, defense attorney Capt. Craig Drummond said in his opening statement. "The enemy does not always show itself. The enemy of this war attacks, hides, then attacks again."
Sandoval faces five charges, including an April 27 murder of an unknown Iraqi male, placing a detonation wire on his body, premeditated murder of another Iraqi male with a 9mm pistol on May 11, placing an AK-47 rifle on his body and failing to ensure humane treatment of a detainee -the victim.
Prosecutor Capt. Sarah Rukowski told the court that it must decide "what was in the accused's mind when he shot an unknown man cutting grass" and killed another "with a
9mm pistol from a few inches away."
Wearing his military uniform, Sandoval stood with his two defense attorneys to enter his not guilty plea during the opening day of a court-martial on a US base west of Baghdad.
Also charged in the case are Sgt. Evan Vela of Rigby, Idaho, and Staff Sgt. Michael Hensley of Candler, North Carolina. They are part of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.
Sandoval was arrested in June while on a two-week leave visiting his family.
Labels: Crime, Iraq, Murder, United States
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 7:35 AM
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