US medic jailed over Iraq murder

[Barrett808]

A US Navy medic has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his part in the killing of an Iraqi civilian in April.

But Petty Officer Melson J Bacos is expected to spend just one year in jail after agreeing to give evidence against seven marines charged with the murder.

Earlier Bacos told his US court-martial that the marines seized the man in the town of Hamdaniya, threw him into a hole and shot him in the head 10 times.

The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of killing Iraqis.

(more)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5415216.stm

[Irreverend IX]

1. For every one of these incidents that gets reported to the brass...

There are probably 10 killings that go unheard of and unpunished. At least in this case someone's going to pay for the crime.

[bluestateguy]

2. Bush's base

and now he can't vote this year.

Toodles!

[Judi Lynn]

3. US medic jailed over Iraq killing

US medic jailed over Iraq killing

07/10/2006 - 8:42:14 AM

A US Navy medic has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his part in the killing of an Iraqi civilian.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Melson Bacos, 21, was charged along with seven Marines for the murder of 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad in the town of Hamdania in April.
(snip)

In return for Bacos’ testimony, other counts of murder, kidnapping and conspiracy were dropped.

Bacos testified that Marines in his patrol seized Awad from his home, threw him into a hole and put at least 10 bullets in his head and chest after growing frustrated in their search for an insurgent.

He said he saw a Marine put fingerprints from the victim onto a rifle and on a shovel to implicate him as an insurgent.
(snip/...)

http://www.eecho.ie/news/bstory.asp?j=162381440&p=y6z38zxzx&n=162382049

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. Now let's see whether this leads to penalty for the others, or whether

it's a case of nailing the guy who squeals, to inhibit such disclosures...

[Judi Lynn]

5. No doubt someone in the administration will concoct a way to make

it much harder on people who give evidence of war crimes. They are very protective of their self-given rights to murder and torture at their own discretion.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Washington Post A.P. story:

Sailor 'Shocked' by Killing of Iraqi

By LINDA DEUTSCH
The Associated Press
Saturday, October 7, 2006; 4:27 AM

~snip~
"Why didn't I just walk away?" Bacos asked before being sentenced. "The answer to that question was I wanted to be part of the team. I wanted to be a respected corpsman, but that is no excuse for immorality."

Bacos said he asked the Marines to let Awad go, but Cpl. Marshall L. Magincalda told him in crude terms that he was being weak and should stop protesting.

"I knew what we were doing was wrong," Bacos testified, speaking nearly in a whisper. "I tried to say something and then I decided to look away."
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/07/AR2006100700139.html