VILSECK, Germany — The lawyer for a U.S. Army master sergeant accused of hatching a plan to kill four bound and blindfolded Iraqis in 2007 today continued to insist there was no evidence the killings even happened.
At a U.S. Army court-martial for Master Sgt. John Hatley, David Court questioned two soldiers who insisted they had not seen anyone shot dead, as alleged, and then dumped in a Baghdad canal.
The bodies of the victims have never been found. Court argues that for that reason, Army prosecutors are relying only on circumstantial evidence and testimony from other courts-martial.
Two other soldiers have been convicted of murder in the killings.
Army prosecutor Capt. Derrick Grace alleged Monday, in his opening remarks, that Hatley oversaw the shootings of the detainees, telling a jury of eight officers and non-commissioned officers that the career soldier told his comrades they were going to “take care” of the Iraqis.
But Court has discounted the claims. Today, he asked Staff Sgt. Jess Cunningham, who was part of Hatley’s unit, if he witnessed any shootings by Hatley and two others — Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Mayo and then-Sgt. Michael Leahy.
Mayo was sentenced to 35 years in prison, and Leahy to life in prison, both with the possibility of parole, after they were convicted of the murders at separate courts-martial. Mayo pleaded guilty.
“Again, to your personal knowledge, no one died at the canal that night?” Court asked in the hearing room at the U.S. Army’s Rose Barracks in southern Germany.
“No, sir,” Cunningham said flatly as Army judge Col. Jeffrey Nance listened intently.
Court asked a second soldier, Spc. Jonathan Shaffer, who was a machine gunner in Cunningham’s Humvee the night of the alleged shootings, if he saw anyone shoot the Iraqi men.
“No, sir,” he replied.
Hatley, 40, has pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and obstruction of justice in the alleged shootings that took place in spring 2007 in the Iraqi capital. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He also faces charges of murder stemming from a separate incident in January 2007. That victim had been involved in a shootout with another U.S. patrol after an improvised explosive device attack.
Neither the Army nor Court has identified Hatley’s hometown.
According to testimony at previous courts-martial, at least four Iraqis were taken into custody in spring 2007 after an exchange of fire with Hatley’s unit and the discovery of weapons in a building where suspects had fled.
The detainees were taken to the unit’s base for questioning and processing, though there wasn’t enough evidence to hold them for attacking the unit. Later that night patrol members took the men to a remote area and shot them so that they would not be able to attack U.S. forces again, according to testimony.
Two more soldiers pleaded guilty in the spring incident, one to conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and one to accessory to murder, and were sentenced to prison last year. Two others, including Cunningham, had charges of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder dropped this year.
All were with the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. The unit is now part of the Germany-based 172nd Infantry Brigade.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
