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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US soldier jailed for Iraq deaths | US soldier jailed for Iraq deaths |
| (4 days later) | |
| A US Army master sergeant convicted of the 2007 murder of four Iraqi detainees has been sentenced to life in jail. | A US Army master sergeant convicted of the 2007 murder of four Iraqi detainees has been sentenced to life in jail. |
| A jury of eight officers and NCOs handed the sentence to Master Sgt John Hatley during a court martial at a US base in southern Germany. | A jury of eight officers and NCOs handed the sentence to Master Sgt John Hatley during a court martial at a US base in southern Germany. |
| Hatley, 40, is the most senior of seven soldiers allegedly involved. Two have been convicted of murder and two admitted to lesser charges. | Hatley, 40, is the most senior of seven soldiers allegedly involved. Two have been convicted of murder and two admitted to lesser charges. |
| He was acquitted over an incident where a wounded insurgent was shot dead. | He was acquitted over an incident where a wounded insurgent was shot dead. |
| As well as the prison sentence, which comes with the possibility of parole, Hatley's rank will be reduced to private and he will be dishonourably discharged. | As well as the prison sentence, which comes with the possibility of parole, Hatley's rank will be reduced to private and he will be dishonourably discharged. |
| Hatley, who had denied the charges, showed no emotion as his guilty verdict was read out on Wednesday at the US Army's Rose Barracks in southern Germany. | Hatley, who had denied the charges, showed no emotion as his guilty verdict was read out on Wednesday at the US Army's Rose Barracks in southern Germany. |
| Ammunition found | Ammunition found |
| The soldiers that Hatley led were stationed at a highly exposed combat post in West Rashid, which in early 2007 was one of the most violent neighbourhoods in Baghdad. | The soldiers that Hatley led were stationed at a highly exposed combat post in West Rashid, which in early 2007 was one of the most violent neighbourhoods in Baghdad. |
| When they found four Iraqi men not far from a cache of weapons, including sniper rifles, just a week after one of their own sergeants had been shot and killed, they took the law into their own hands, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Washington. | When they found four Iraqi men not far from a cache of weapons, including sniper rifles, just a week after one of their own sergeants had been shot and killed, they took the law into their own hands, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Washington. |
| On two separate occasions, the accused became the judge, jury and executioner Capt Derrick GraceProsecution lawyer | On two separate occasions, the accused became the judge, jury and executioner Capt Derrick GraceProsecution lawyer |
| With no real evidence against them the detainees should have been released, our correspondent says. | With no real evidence against them the detainees should have been released, our correspondent says. |
| Instead they were bound, blindfolded and summarily killed. It is thought their bodies were dumped in a canal but they have never been found. | Instead they were bound, blindfolded and summarily killed. It is thought their bodies were dumped in a canal but they have never been found. |
| Because of that absence of physical evidence, Hatley was convicted on the strength of witness statements including those from the two other soldiers already convicted of the killings. | Because of that absence of physical evidence, Hatley was convicted on the strength of witness statements including those from the two other soldiers already convicted of the killings. |
| Capt Derrick Grace, for the prosecution, said testimony had pointed to "a complete breakdown of discipline and crimes that are among the worst of a soldier". | Capt Derrick Grace, for the prosecution, said testimony had pointed to "a complete breakdown of discipline and crimes that are among the worst of a soldier". |
| "On two separate occasions, the accused became the judge, jury and executioner." | "On two separate occasions, the accused became the judge, jury and executioner." |
| Hatley is one of seven soldiers allegedly involved in the case and the third to be convicted for murder. | Hatley is one of seven soldiers allegedly involved in the case and the third to be convicted for murder. |
| In February, Sgt Joseph Leahy, 28, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the case and last month Sgt Joseph Mayo, 27, was sentenced to 35 years in prison. | In February, Sgt Joseph Leahy, 28, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the case and last month Sgt Joseph Mayo, 27, was sentenced to 35 years in prison. |