This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/verdict-expected-in-blackwater-shooting-case/2014/10/22/5a488258-59fc-11e4-bd61-346aee66ba29_story.html?wprss=rss_national-security
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Four Blackwater guards found guilty in 2007 Iraq shootings of 31 unarmed civilians | Four Blackwater guards found guilty in 2007 Iraq shootings of 31 unarmed civilians |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Seven years after American security contractors killed 14 unarmed Iraqis by firing machine guns and grenades into a Baghdad traffic circle, a jury in Washington on Wednesday convicted four Blackwater Worldwide guards of murder and manslaughter charges in the incident, one of the most ignominious chapters of the Iraq war. | Seven years after American security contractors killed 14 unarmed Iraqis by firing machine guns and grenades into a Baghdad traffic circle, a jury in Washington on Wednesday convicted four Blackwater Worldwide guards of murder and manslaughter charges in the incident, one of the most ignominious chapters of the Iraq war. |
| The guilty verdicts marked a sweeping victory for prosecutors, who argued in a 10-week trial that the defendants fired wildly and out-of-control in a botched security operation after one of them falsely claimed to believe the driver of an approaching vehicle was a car bomber. | The guilty verdicts marked a sweeping victory for prosecutors, who argued in a 10-week trial that the defendants fired wildly and out-of-control in a botched security operation after one of them falsely claimed to believe the driver of an approaching vehicle was a car bomber. |
| The guards claimed they acted in self-defense and responded appropriately to the car-bomb threat and the sound of incoming AK-47 gunfire, their defense said. | The guards claimed they acted in self-defense and responded appropriately to the car-bomb threat and the sound of incoming AK-47 gunfire, their defense said. |
| Overall, defendants were charged with the deaths of 14 Iraqis and the wounding of 17 others at Baghdad’s Nisour Square shortly after noon on Sept. 16, 2007. None of the victims was an insurgent. | Overall, defendants were charged with the deaths of 14 Iraqis and the wounding of 17 others at Baghdad’s Nisour Square shortly after noon on Sept. 16, 2007. None of the victims was an insurgent. |
| David Schertler, who represents one of the guards, Dustin Heard, called the verdict “incomprehensible.” | David Schertler, who represents one of the guards, Dustin Heard, called the verdict “incomprehensible.” |
| “The verdict is wrong,” he said. “We’re devastated. We’re going to fight this every step of the way.” | “The verdict is wrong,” he said. “We’re devastated. We’re going to fight this every step of the way.” |
| Evan S. Liberty’s attorney, William Coffield, said, “There are a lot of appellate issues here.” | Evan S. Liberty’s attorney, William Coffield, said, “There are a lot of appellate issues here.” |
| The jury of eight women and four men deliberated 28 days before convicting Nicholas A. Slatten, 30, of Sparta, Tenn., of murder. The panel also convicted Paul A. Slough, 35, of Keller, Tex., of 13 counts of manslaughter and 17 counts of attempted manslaughter; Liberty, 32, of Rochester, N.H., of eight counts of manslaughter and 12 counts of attempted manslaughter; and Heard, 33, of Knoxville, Tenn., of six counts of manslaughter and 11 counts of attempted manslaughter. | The jury of eight women and four men deliberated 28 days before convicting Nicholas A. Slatten, 30, of Sparta, Tenn., of murder. The panel also convicted Paul A. Slough, 35, of Keller, Tex., of 13 counts of manslaughter and 17 counts of attempted manslaughter; Liberty, 32, of Rochester, N.H., of eight counts of manslaughter and 12 counts of attempted manslaughter; and Heard, 33, of Knoxville, Tenn., of six counts of manslaughter and 11 counts of attempted manslaughter. |
| Slough, Liberty and Heard were also convicted of using military firearms while committing a felony. Jurors deadlocked and a mistrial was declared on three counts against Heard. | Slough, Liberty and Heard were also convicted of using military firearms while committing a felony. Jurors deadlocked and a mistrial was declared on three counts against Heard. |
| Slatten faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison for murder. The other three — who, like Slatten, are military veterans — face a mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth set sentencing for later. | Slatten faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison for murder. The other three — who, like Slatten, are military veterans — face a mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth set sentencing for later. |
| “This verdict is a resounding affirmation of the commitment of the American people to the rule of law, even in times of war,” said U.S. Attorney for the District Ronald C. Machen Jr., whose office prosecuted the case. “I pray that this verdict will bring some sense of comfort to the survivors of that massacre.” | “This verdict is a resounding affirmation of the commitment of the American people to the rule of law, even in times of war,” said U.S. Attorney for the District Ronald C. Machen Jr., whose office prosecuted the case. “I pray that this verdict will bring some sense of comfort to the survivors of that massacre.” |
| Andrew G. McCabe, chief of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, said the verdict showed “the FBI’s dedication to investigating violations of U.S. law no matter where they occur.” | Andrew G. McCabe, chief of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, said the verdict showed “the FBI’s dedication to investigating violations of U.S. law no matter where they occur.” |
| The outcome marked an end to a years-long quest by prosecutors to bring the case to trial and a milestone in the government’s efforts to monitor security contractors’ conduct on the battlefield. | The outcome marked an end to a years-long quest by prosecutors to bring the case to trial and a milestone in the government’s efforts to monitor security contractors’ conduct on the battlefield. |
| The contractor shootings and the American government’s refusal to allow the men to be tried in Iraq sent relations between the two countries into a crisis, and the Blackwater name became shorthand for unaccountable U.S. power. | The contractor shootings and the American government’s refusal to allow the men to be tried in Iraq sent relations between the two countries into a crisis, and the Blackwater name became shorthand for unaccountable U.S. power. |
| In Congress, lawmakers denounced the Nisour Square shooting as recently as July, but legislation that would provide clearer jurisdiction for U.S. prosecutors and investigators to pursue criminal wrongdoing by private security contractors overseas has languished for years. | In Congress, lawmakers denounced the Nisour Square shooting as recently as July, but legislation that would provide clearer jurisdiction for U.S. prosecutors and investigators to pursue criminal wrongdoing by private security contractors overseas has languished for years. |
| Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) applauded the verdict but added, “It should not have taken this long for justice to be served. . . . Ensuring that our government has the ability to hold government contractors accountable should be a bipartisan issue, and I hope senators of both parties will work together to pass this important reform.” | Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) applauded the verdict but added, “It should not have taken this long for justice to be served. . . . Ensuring that our government has the ability to hold government contractors accountable should be a bipartisan issue, and I hope senators of both parties will work together to pass this important reform.” |
| The security firm’s founder, Erik Prince, eventually left the company, which was renamed Xe Services, then sold and renamed Academi. | |
| The civilian jury verdicts against the Blackwater guards were a striking departure from how the military justice system dealt with U.S. servicemembers accused of killing 25 unarmed Iraqis, again including women and children, during a 2005 raid on their home in Anbar province. | The civilian jury verdicts against the Blackwater guards were a striking departure from how the military justice system dealt with U.S. servicemembers accused of killing 25 unarmed Iraqis, again including women and children, during a 2005 raid on their home in Anbar province. |
| Eight U.S. Marines were initially charged in the Haditha incident, but one was acquitted and six others had charges ranging from involuntary manslaughter to assault against them dropped. Ultimately, only one, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, was convicted in connection to the incident. Wuterich pleaded guilty to negligent dereliction of duty and received a reduction in rank and no jail time. | Eight U.S. Marines were initially charged in the Haditha incident, but one was acquitted and six others had charges ranging from involuntary manslaughter to assault against them dropped. Ultimately, only one, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, was convicted in connection to the incident. Wuterich pleaded guilty to negligent dereliction of duty and received a reduction in rank and no jail time. |
| The defendants in the Blackwater case were among 19 guards providing security for State Department officials in Iraq. At the time of the incident, their convoy was clearing the way for another Blackwater team evacuating a U.S. official from a nearby car bombing. | The defendants in the Blackwater case were among 19 guards providing security for State Department officials in Iraq. At the time of the incident, their convoy was clearing the way for another Blackwater team evacuating a U.S. official from a nearby car bombing. |
| The prosecution faced several obstacles, including some problems of the government’s own making. | The prosecution faced several obstacles, including some problems of the government’s own making. |
| Charges in the shooting were first brought against six Blackwater employees in 2008, one of whom, Jeremy Ridgeway, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and testified for the government in the current trial. Charges against another man, Donald Ball, were dropped. | Charges in the shooting were first brought against six Blackwater employees in 2008, one of whom, Jeremy Ridgeway, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and testified for the government in the current trial. Charges against another man, Donald Ball, were dropped. |
| A federal judge, however, threw out the other indictments in 2009, saying that prosecutors improperly relied on statements that the guards gave the State Department immediately after the shooting, believing that they would not be used in court. An appeals court reversed that ruling in 2011, enabling prosecutors to obtain fresh indictments. | A federal judge, however, threw out the other indictments in 2009, saying that prosecutors improperly relied on statements that the guards gave the State Department immediately after the shooting, believing that they would not be used in court. An appeals court reversed that ruling in 2011, enabling prosecutors to obtain fresh indictments. |
| The remaining four defendants claimed the violence was triggered by Ridgeway, whom a prosecutor conceded suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and “lost it” in Iraq, and by the convoy’s team leader, Jimmy Watson, who, like several other members of the Blackwater team, was granted limited immunity by the government for his testimony against former colleagues. | The remaining four defendants claimed the violence was triggered by Ridgeway, whom a prosecutor conceded suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and “lost it” in Iraq, and by the convoy’s team leader, Jimmy Watson, who, like several other members of the Blackwater team, was granted limited immunity by the government for his testimony against former colleagues. |
| While prosecutors called 70 witnesses to only four for the defense, some ex-Blackwater employees also disagreed over whether Slatten or others fired the first shots, and some agreed that they heard incoming AK-47 fire. | While prosecutors called 70 witnesses to only four for the defense, some ex-Blackwater employees also disagreed over whether Slatten or others fired the first shots, and some agreed that they heard incoming AK-47 fire. |
| The prosecution suffered another setback during the trial when they discovered that they had failed to turn over all the photographs from a computer disk of evidence taken by investigators after the incident, including one belatedly released to defendants showing AK-47 shell casings from a bus stop near the square from which they claimed to be taking fire. | The prosecution suffered another setback during the trial when they discovered that they had failed to turn over all the photographs from a computer disk of evidence taken by investigators after the incident, including one belatedly released to defendants showing AK-47 shell casings from a bus stop near the square from which they claimed to be taking fire. |
| However, jurors rejected the guards’ claims that they acted in self-defense, instead concluding they acted excessively and unreasonably by initiating a firefight with a phantom enemy, shooting and killing unarmed civilians without regard for the threat they posed. | However, jurors rejected the guards’ claims that they acted in self-defense, instead concluding they acted excessively and unreasonably by initiating a firefight with a phantom enemy, shooting and killing unarmed civilians without regard for the threat they posed. |
| Prosecutors claimed the convoy’s command vehicle was hit by shrapnel from an American grenade. | Prosecutors claimed the convoy’s command vehicle was hit by shrapnel from an American grenade. |
| Prosecutors also claimed that Slatten “lit the match that ignited the firestorm,” assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Asuncion said in closing arguments, and charged Slough, the convoy command vehicle’s turret gunner, with causing the most harm, as team members fired unprovoked into stopped traffic and then turned more firepower onto a panicked, fleeing crowd. | Prosecutors also claimed that Slatten “lit the match that ignited the firestorm,” assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Asuncion said in closing arguments, and charged Slough, the convoy command vehicle’s turret gunner, with causing the most harm, as team members fired unprovoked into stopped traffic and then turned more firepower onto a panicked, fleeing crowd. |
| To make the case, prosecutors called 30 Iraqis to appear, in what it said was the largest number of foreign witnesses to testify in a U.S. criminal trial. | To make the case, prosecutors called 30 Iraqis to appear, in what it said was the largest number of foreign witnesses to testify in a U.S. criminal trial. |
| Prosecutors also contended that Slatten and Liberty held hostility toward the Iraqi civilian population, and with Slough on occasion fired weapons at Iraqi targets without provocation. | Prosecutors also contended that Slatten and Liberty held hostility toward the Iraqi civilian population, and with Slough on occasion fired weapons at Iraqi targets without provocation. |
| Defendants’ attorneys said their clients acted reasonably at a time when the Iraqi capital was the scene of “horrific threats” from car bombs, ambushes and follow-on attacks, sometimes aided by Iraqi security forces infiltrated by guerrillas. | Defendants’ attorneys said their clients acted reasonably at a time when the Iraqi capital was the scene of “horrific threats” from car bombs, ambushes and follow-on attacks, sometimes aided by Iraqi security forces infiltrated by guerrillas. |
| Defense attorneys said the U.S. government was overstepping legal limits by even bringing the prosecution under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, or MEJA, under which government employees and contractors can be prosecuted for criminal acts they commit abroad. | Defense attorneys said the U.S. government was overstepping legal limits by even bringing the prosecution under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, or MEJA, under which government employees and contractors can be prosecuted for criminal acts they commit abroad. |
| Defendants said they were in Iraq under contract with the State Department, not the Pentagon. Prosecutors said MEJA extends to those engaged in actions related to supporting the U.S. military mission. | Defendants said they were in Iraq under contract with the State Department, not the Pentagon. Prosecutors said MEJA extends to those engaged in actions related to supporting the U.S. military mission. |
| News researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report. | News researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report. |