[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----USA/IRAQ

[Rick Halperin]

June 21



USA/IRAQ:

Soldiers Charged With Murdering Iraqi Civilian, Could Face Death Penalty
---- Soldiers also accused of kidnapping, conspiracy, larceny, providing
false official statements.


7 Marines and a Navy medic were charged with premeditated murder and other
counts Wednesday (June 21) in the April death of an Iraqi man. They could
face the death penalty.

The soldiers are also being accused of kidnapping, conspiracy, larceny and
providing false official statements in the April 26 shooting of
54-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad, according to a statement released by Camp
Pendleton, the Southern California base where the accused have been living
in confinement since last month.

The Marines and medic  Marine Sergeant Lawrence G. Hutchins III, Marine
Corporal Trent D. Thomas, Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Melson J.
Bacos, Marine Lance Corporal Tyler A. Jackson, Marine Private 1st Class
John J. Jodka, Marine Lance Corporal Jerry E. Shumate Jr., Marine Lance
Corporal Robert B. Pennington and Marine Corporal Marshall L. Magincalda
allegedly pulled the unarmed Awad, a disabled veteran of Iraq's war with
Iran in the 1980s, from his home and shot him to death without
provocation.

Awad's family told CNN the Marines were pressuring him to act as an
informer in conjunction with roadside bombs and attacks around Hamdaniya,
on Baghdad's western outskirts.

The soldiers offered $10,000 in compensation for Awad's death, his
brother, Sadoon Awad, told CNN, but he refused and went to Iraqi
authorities.

Each of the accused has retained civilian counsel and hearings will begin
immediately.

Camp Pendleton's announcement came the same day that charges of murder and
giving a false official statement were filed against a 4th Army soldier
Specialist Juston R. Graber, 20, of the 101st Airborne Division  in the
May 9 shooting deaths of 3 Iraqi civilians who had been detained by
troops. 3 other soldiers from that division were charged Monday in that
incident.

Both cases are separate from the alleged killing of 24 Iraqi civilians at
Haditha last November by other Marines, as that investigation is still
under way (see "Military Inquiry Contradicts Marines Account Of Haditha
Deaths"). Between the 3 cases, criticism for the Marine Corps has been
heavy.

"As commandant I am gravely concerned about the serious allegations
concerning actions of some Marines at Haditha and Hamdaniya," General
Michael Hagee, the Marine commandant, told a Pentagon news conference June
7. "I can assure you that the Marine Corps takes them seriously."

(source: MTV news)