Plea-deal medic will testify over killing of Iraqi man
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Since 10-07-06

Sat 7 Oct 2006

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1484132006

THOMAS WATKINS IN CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

A US NAVY medic pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy yesterday, under a plea deal in which he agreed to testify about the death of an Iraqi civilian.

Seven marines are accused of murdering the Iraqi on 26 April in the western town of Hamdania, where they were searching for an insurgent. They face life in prison if convicted.

Petty Officer Melson Bacos, 21, entered the plea at his court martial and agreed to testify about the marines' role and give his account of the death of 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad.

In return for that evidence, other counts against Bacos of murder, kidnapping and conspiracy would be dropped, his civilian lawyer said.

Bacos said "Yes, sir" when asked by Colonel Steven Folsom, who presided over the hearing, if he agreed with the pleas.

According to the charge sheet, the troops had entered Hamdania searching for an insurgent and, failing to find him, grabbed Mr Awad from his home and shot him.

An AK-47 rifle and a shovel were left by his body, apparently to make it look like the man had been digging a hole for a roadside bomb and was killed in an exchange of gunfire.

Bacos, who was on patrol with the marines, was accused of firing the AK-47 into the air as part of the cover-up.

Military prosecutors had charged him under the theory that he did nothing to stop the alleged crime.

Related topic

  • Iraq
    http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=404

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Last updated: 07-Oct-06 01:16 BST