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US medic in Iraq kidnap plea deal | US medic in Iraq kidnap plea deal |
(20 minutes later) | |
A US Navy medic has pleaded guilty to helping kidnap an Iraqi civilian in Hamdaniya, while agreeing to testify about his comrades' roles in his death. | A US Navy medic has pleaded guilty to helping kidnap an Iraqi civilian in Hamdaniya, while agreeing to testify about his comrades' roles in his death. |
Petty Officer Melson J Bacos's plea bargain means he will not face murder charges for the April killing. | Petty Officer Melson J Bacos's plea bargain means he will not face murder charges for the April killing. |
Seven marines are at various stages of the military justice process over the kidnap and murder of Hashim Awad. | Seven marines are at various stages of the military justice process over the kidnap and murder of Hashim Awad. |
The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of murdering civilians in Iraq. | The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of murdering civilians in Iraq. |
'Planting bomb' | |
According to charge documents presented to the military court, the troops had entered the town near Baghdad searching for an insurgent. | |
Failing to find the suspect, the men are alleged to have grabbed Mr Awad from his home and shot him. | |
It was further alleged that an assault rifle and a shovel were left by the body, apparently to make it look like the man had been planting a roadside bomb and had been killed in a gun battle. | |
Last month the US military said three marines would be tried for murder by a military tribunal. | |
Pte John Jodka was accused of firing at the victim, Corp Marshall Magincalda was accused of kidnap and binding the victim's feet, while L/Cpl Jerry Shumate was alleged to have fired his rifle at him and to have lied to investigators about what had happened. | |
The US statement said the death penalty would not be sought against any of the three marines, although it was available in the case of premeditated murder. |