Blackwater shooting defendants in court Tuesday

[unhappycamper]

Blackwater shooting defendants in court Tuesday
By Jim Heintz - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jan 5, 2009 16:19:33 EST

BAGHDAD — Iraqis wounded by gunfire in a Baghdad square 15 months ago are awaiting with guarded hopes the beginning of court proceedings against five former private Blackwater Worldwide security guards.

The five men are to appear in a federal court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday for an initial hearing on charges of manslaughter in the chaotic few minutes of shooting on Sept. 16, 2007, that killed 17 Iraqi civilians and wounded dozens more.

The defendants, who are expected to plead not guilty, contend they opened fire after coming under attack when a car in a State Department convoy they were escorting broke down. But people wounded in the outburst say the shooting was unprovoked.

“It all started when they began shooting without any cause,” Samir Hobi, a taxi driver who was sitting in his car at the scene.

“Then the Blackwater vehicles came up on the wrong side and pushed my car away,” said Hobi, who suffered a broken leg.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_blackwater_trial_010509/%2e