Medic gets life term for detainee deaths

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Medic gets life term for detainee deaths
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, February 22, 2009

VILSECK, Germany — Lawyers say they will appeal for clemency in the case of an Army medic who was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after being found guilty of murder in the deaths of four Iraqi detainees in March 2007.

A panel of nine officers and noncommissioned officers found Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr., 26, guilty of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit premeditated murder at a court-martial that ended Friday in Vilseck.

Leahy was one of three alleged shooters from Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment involved in an incident in which the four bound and blindfolded detainees were shot execution-style before their bodies were dumped in a Baghdad canal.

In addition to the prison sentence, Leahy’s penalty included a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and reduction to private.

Frank Spinner, Leahy’s civilian lawyer, said he will begin the appeal process.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60885