Death penalty call for US soldiers if convicted of killing three detainees during a raid in Iraq in May

Since 09-06-06

Mon 4 Sep 2006

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1301992006

A US Army officer has recommended that four American troops face the death penalty if convicted of killing three detainees during a raid in Iraq in May.

The investigating officer, Lt-Col James Daniel, made his recommendation after finding "aggravating circumstances" in the case. The soldiers, all members of the 101st Airborne Division, maintain they acted in self-defence after the detainees used a hidden knife to cut plastic handcuffs.

Lt-Col Daniel recommended that three of the soldiers be charged with plotting to murder the detainees, while the fourth, who withdrew from the plot, was still implicated.