BAGHDAD, Iraq – The U.S. military has dismissed all charges against a Pennsylvania National Guardsman accused of killing an unarmed Iraq civilian near Ramadi, finding that the soldier had reason to believe the man had a weapon.
Spc. Nathan Lynn, 21, of South Williamsport, Pa., was accused of voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy to obstruct justice over the death of Gani Ahmed Zaben during a Feb. 15 raid on a suspect’s house.
Lynn will return to his unit soon, U.S. military officials in Baghdad said Sunday.
Another soldier, Sgt. Milton Ortiz Jr., 36, of Islip, N.Y., still faces one count of obstructing justice for allegedly conspiring with another soldier to put an AK-47 near the Iraqi man’s body.
An Article 32 hearing – the military equivalent of a grand jury – concluded last week.
The allegations against Lynn and Ortiz were among at least five incidents being investigated by the military regarding alleged murder or abuse against Iraqis by troops.
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