2008 Woodie Awards
U.S. sniper guilty of killing unarmed Iraqi civilian
Jamie Metrick
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: World
"I don't remember pulling the trigger. I don't remember the sound of the shot," Vela said at his trial, according to CNN News. "It took me a few seconds to realize that the shot came from my pistol."
Sgt. Vela will be transferred to a U.S. military base in Kuwait, and remain there until the military decides on a permanent U.S. incarceration site. Vela was also sentenced to forfeit all pay and allowances, and will receive a dishonorable discharge. His case is automatically referred to a military appeals court, according to MSNBC News.
Sgt. Hensley and Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval Jr., the two commanding officers of the six-man sniper force, have faced similar charges in al-Janabi's death as well as two other killings.
During this trial, both men were acquitted of murder but convicted of planting evidence. Hensley was sentenced to 135 days confinement, received a letter of reprimand and a reduced rank to sergeant. Sandoval was sentenced to five months in prison, pay withheld, and with rank reduced to private.
In the end, Vela is ultimately held responsible the law for the murder of al-Janabi because of the Nuremberg Laws. The Nuremberg Laws state that a soldier is responsible for his or her behavior; there is no exemption because of the pressure of a superior. A soldier is still obligated to uphold a code of conduct.
"They've got the wrong guys on trial," Duncan said. "They prosecuted the grunts, every time there's a situation like this they should be trying the generals, the secretary of defense, the president - they're the ones who got us into this war."
However, these cases are not isolated incidents. According to the World Socialist Web site, figures indicate that Iraqi civilians are shot at by U.S. forces at least every three hours, as of July 2007. The rate at which civilians are fired upon has sharply risen with the increase of American operations in densely populated residential areas of Baghdad and other cities. Between 2006 and 2007 an estimated 429 Iraqi civilians were killed or wounded at checkpoints or near military patrols and convoys.
Sgt. Vela will be transferred to a U.S. military base in Kuwait, and remain there until the military decides on a permanent U.S. incarceration site. Vela was also sentenced to forfeit all pay and allowances, and will receive a dishonorable discharge. His case is automatically referred to a military appeals court, according to MSNBC News.
Sgt. Hensley and Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval Jr., the two commanding officers of the six-man sniper force, have faced similar charges in al-Janabi's death as well as two other killings.
During this trial, both men were acquitted of murder but convicted of planting evidence. Hensley was sentenced to 135 days confinement, received a letter of reprimand and a reduced rank to sergeant. Sandoval was sentenced to five months in prison, pay withheld, and with rank reduced to private.
In the end, Vela is ultimately held responsible the law for the murder of al-Janabi because of the Nuremberg Laws. The Nuremberg Laws state that a soldier is responsible for his or her behavior; there is no exemption because of the pressure of a superior. A soldier is still obligated to uphold a code of conduct.
"They've got the wrong guys on trial," Duncan said. "They prosecuted the grunts, every time there's a situation like this they should be trying the generals, the secretary of defense, the president - they're the ones who got us into this war."
However, these cases are not isolated incidents. According to the World Socialist Web site, figures indicate that Iraqi civilians are shot at by U.S. forces at least every three hours, as of July 2007. The rate at which civilians are fired upon has sharply risen with the increase of American operations in densely populated residential areas of Baghdad and other cities. Between 2006 and 2007 an estimated 429 Iraqi civilians were killed or wounded at checkpoints or near military patrols and convoys.
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