U.S. jury convicts ex-Blackwater guards in 2007 Baghdad killings

[babylonsister]

U.S. jury convicts ex-Blackwater guards in 2007 Baghdad killings
By Aruna Viswanatha and Julia Edwards

WASHINGTON Wed Oct 22, 2014 2:23pm EDT


(Reuters) - In a sweeping victory for the U.S. government, a federal jury on Wednesday found four former Blackwater guards guilty on nearly every count they faced in connection with the 2007 killing of 14 unarmed Iraqis at a Baghdad traffic circle.

Jurors found three of the ex-guards guilty of manslaughter and weapons charges, and a fourth guilty of murder.

The verdict comes more than seven years after the shooting incident that outraged Iraqis and inflamed anti-American sentiment around the world.

A court clerk read the jury's verdict aloud on Wednesday around noon to a packed courtroom, repeating the word "guilty" 71 times as the defendants sat and listened silently.

Paul Slough, Dustin Heard and Evan Liberty were convicted of voluntary manslaughter in connection with at least 12 deaths at Nisur Square, where the Blackwater unit had been trying to clear a path for a U.S. State Department convoy. The Washington jury also found the three guilty of attempted manslaughter in connection with the wounding of at least 11 Iraqis who had been at the site.

The fourth guard, Nicholas Slatten, was found guilty of murder in connection with the first death at the circle.

The 2007 shooting stood out for its brazenness, even during a war replete with grisly incidents, and raised questions about the rules governing security contractors working overseas for the U.S. government.

more...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/22/us-blackwater-trial-idUSKCN0IB20L20141022

[Deny and Shred]

1. One small step ...

... and a big leap for mankind.

This incident was to me a high water mark in the mishandling of the Iraq 'liberation', and that is saying something.

Somewhere in the lead-up to the '12 election, I figured this incident also fell under the 'must look forward' doctrine. Back then, I didn't think this day would come. I won't dwell on the myriad of other crimes in Iraq. Justice was overdue, and it is served today.

The jurisdictional morass that was contractors-in-combat zones I always thought was intentional. US Law? International Law? Local Law? Military Law? None of the Above? A privatized mercenary free-for-all on steroids ?

May this be a step toward reining it in.

[sandpan]

2. Finally, some good news!

I've been waiting for this decision and it is the most positive news I've read in a long, long time.