Defense contractor charged with murder

[unhappycamper]

Defense contractor charged with murder
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, November 22, 2008

ARLINGTON, Va. — An Army Human Terrain Team member has been charged with murder in connection with the killing of an Afghan man who set another team member on fire.

Don Michael Ayala, a contractor working for the Virginia-based firm Strategic Analysis Inc., allegedly shot Abdul Salam while the man was restrained in U.S. custody, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.

On Nov. 4, Ayala was on a patrol about 50 miles west of Kandahar along with two other team members and a platoon of soldiers. During the patrol, Salam lit a container of flammable liquid and threw it at one of the team members, Paula Loyd, the affidavit said.

Salam tried to get away, but Ayala forced him to the ground, where he was cuffed.

"After about 10 minutes, a soldier approached the location where Ayala had Salam detained and informed the personnel in the area that Loyd was burned badly," the affidavit said. "Ayala pushed his pistol against Salam’s head and shot Salam, killing him instantly."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58983

[boobooday]

1. How tragic and sad and outrageous. n/t