Mercy killing? A soldier shoots dead an unarmed teenager going about his job and gets three years for murder? No wonder the Iraqis hate the Americans! It's not like the teenager was involved in anything. The guy should go down for life as an example to others that this behaviour is unacceptable. Plea bargain? What the fuck is that? The guy was banged to rights, so if he said yes he did it, they pat him on the back and give him a sentence equivelent to a shoplifter on his second offence? Where's the justice for the Iraqi teenager and his family?
This is not the first time. That american cameraman got those other grunts shooting dead already injured and out of action "insurgents" (freedom fighters).
And Americans wonder why the USA is held in such contempt by the rest of the civilised world. A dollar not worth the fucking paper its printed on, and a gung ho attitude that pisses of everyone.
From the BBC site.
"A US soldier has been jailed for three years in a plea bargain following the murder of a severely wounded 16-year-old Iraqi, the military says.
Staff Sgt Johnny Horne Jr had pleaded guilty to the unpremeditated murder of the civilian youth in Baghdad's Sadr City suburb on 18 August.
He also pleaded guilty to soliciting another soldier to commit murder.
His defence said the death of the injured Iraqi was a "mercy killing" in collusion with another soldier.
The seven-person panel reached a decision on Friday evening after four hours of deliberation.
Horne was also reduced to the rank of private and given a dishonourable discharge.
His was one of a dozen courts martial hearings under way relating to action in Iraq.
'Out of his misery'
The charges stem from an incident in Sadr City when coalition forces were locked in fierce fighting with supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.
The court heard that members of Horne's unit fired on a rubbish truck they suspected of laying roadside bombs.
However, inside the lorry was a crew of teenage boys hoping to make some extra money on a night shift.
The soldiers, including Horne, tried to rescue one of the injured youths, according to witness testimony.
Several witnesses described the injured Iraqi as having severe abdominal wounds and burns. Some thought the casualty was beyond medical help.
Witnesses say Horne shot and killed one of the badly injured boys.
The US soldiers decided that "the best course of action was to put [the Iraqi] out of his misery", the criminal investigator told the court."
Who does he think this Iraqi was, an injured dog?
This is not the first time. That american cameraman got those other grunts shooting dead already injured and out of action "insurgents" (freedom fighters).
And Americans wonder why the USA is held in such contempt by the rest of the civilised world. A dollar not worth the fucking paper its printed on, and a gung ho attitude that pisses of everyone.
From the BBC site.
"A US soldier has been jailed for three years in a plea bargain following the murder of a severely wounded 16-year-old Iraqi, the military says.
Staff Sgt Johnny Horne Jr had pleaded guilty to the unpremeditated murder of the civilian youth in Baghdad's Sadr City suburb on 18 August.
He also pleaded guilty to soliciting another soldier to commit murder.
His defence said the death of the injured Iraqi was a "mercy killing" in collusion with another soldier.
The seven-person panel reached a decision on Friday evening after four hours of deliberation.
Horne was also reduced to the rank of private and given a dishonourable discharge.
His was one of a dozen courts martial hearings under way relating to action in Iraq.
'Out of his misery'
The charges stem from an incident in Sadr City when coalition forces were locked in fierce fighting with supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.
The court heard that members of Horne's unit fired on a rubbish truck they suspected of laying roadside bombs.
However, inside the lorry was a crew of teenage boys hoping to make some extra money on a night shift.
The soldiers, including Horne, tried to rescue one of the injured youths, according to witness testimony.
Several witnesses described the injured Iraqi as having severe abdominal wounds and burns. Some thought the casualty was beyond medical help.
Witnesses say Horne shot and killed one of the badly injured boys.
The US soldiers decided that "the best course of action was to put [the Iraqi] out of his misery", the criminal investigator told the court."
Who does he think this Iraqi was, an injured dog?
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