U.S. prosecutors to drop charges against Blackwater guard on shooting case
November 21, 2009 - 08:33:28
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Federal prosecutors are dropping manslaughter and weapons charges against one of the five Blackwater Worldwide contractors charged in a 2007 Baghdad shooting that left 17 Iraqis dead, according to USA Today newspaper on Saturday.
It’s not yet clear why the Justice Department is dropping its case against former soldier Nicholas Slatten of Sparta, Tenn. The court document is sealed.
The Blackwater guards say their convoy was ambushed; prosecutors say the shootings were unprovoked. Afterward, some guards spoke to investigators after being promised immunity. Prosecutors contend that the immunity deal did not taint the case.
Last December, lawyers for Slatten and his co-defendants accused the government of “engaging in unfair second-guessing of the contractors’ actions in a combat zone,” the Washington Post wrote. They said they would challenge the charges on jurisdictional and factual grounds.
Here’s some of what Slatten’s lawyer said:
Tom Connolly, who represents Slatten, said “the indictment is an effort by bureaucrats in Washington to second-guess split-second decisions made by honorable men during a firefight in the most dangerous neighborhood in the world.”
“Once the jury understands the events of Sept. 16, they are not going to do what the Department of Justice is doing — which is second-guessing honorable men in a firefight,” Connolly added. “Even if they have jurisdiction, we will prevail when we meet them on the facts.”
Back in February, the judge refused a defense motion to drop charges against the men, all military veterans.
That same month, Blackwater changed its name to Xe Service.
AmR (S)
Print versionGovernorate News
Polls
Loading ...Weather
