Blackwater duo convicted of involuntary manslaughter

[unhappycamper]

Blackwater duo convicted of involuntary manslaughter
By Tim McGlone
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 13, 2011

NORFOLK - In what appeared to be a compromise verdict, a federal jury Friday found two former Blackwater contractors guilty of one manslaughter count but acquitted the pair of all other charges in the shootings of three Afghans.

Christopher Drotleff of Virginia Beach was already weeping as the clerk read "not guilty" over and over again to charges of murder, assault and weapons offenses. Co-defendant Justin Cannon stood nearby stoically.

The jury in U.S. District Court found Drotleff and Cannon guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting death of a passenger in a car they fired on at a Kabul intersection on May 5, 2009.

Jurors found them not guilty of murder or manslaughter for the shooting death of a pedestrian, who happened to be walking a dog nearby that night. They also acquitted both of assault for wounding the driver of the car, a decision that Cannon's attorney, James Broccoletti, called "puzzling," because they found wrongdoing for shooting the passenger but no wrongdoing for wounding the driver.

But Cannon and Drotleff were happy when it was over, the lawyers said.

[malaise]

1. K & R

They got away with murder

[fittosurvive]

2. How can you be so sure? Were you on the jury?