2008 Woodie Awards
U.S. sniper guilty of killing unarmed Iraqi civilian
Jamie Metrick
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: World
Sergeant Evan Vela, a U.S. army sniper, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Feb. 10 for murder without premeditation after killing an Iraqi civilian and planting evidence on him.
On May 11, 2007, Sgt. Vela shot Genei Nasir al-Janabi, after al-Janabi spotted Vela and five other U.S. snipers hiding near the town of Iskandariya, southwest of Baghdad. After he shot al-Janabi, Vela planted an AK-47 on his body.
Vela admitted to killing Mr. al-Janabi but claimed it was an accident, blaming sleep deprivation and post-traumatic stress. The defense argued Vela had slept less than five hours in three days while out in hostile territory. Vela and the other snipers testified they traveled all night through swamps and canals, enduring extremely high temperatures and were administering IVs to each other to remain hydrated.
"Our military is pushed and stressed beyond breaking point,' said Robert Duncan, associate professor of political science. "You cannot have that kind of stress and not have it affect you. Some of these soldiers are on their second and third tours. We've been in Iraqi longer than World War II."
Vela's defense also claimed he lied about the incident afterwards partly due to his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Vela had initially been charged with premeditated murder and faced a possible life sentence, but the situation has changed since his court martial in Baghdad.
"It's a simple case," said Capt. Jason Nef, one of the two military prosecutors, to CNN News. "The reason is because Vela confessed on the stand that he lied. He confessed he killed an unarmed Iraqi."
Vela's commanding officer, Staff Sgt. Michael A. Hensley, testified that he ordered Vela to kill al-Janabi after the snipers had fallen asleep, and woke to find al-Janabi squatting three feet away from them. Hensley said that he ordered the man to lie on the ground when al-Janabi began yelling. Hensley testified that a group of "military-aged men" began to gather 100 yards away, and he ordered Vela to kill al-Janabi because it was the only way to keep the sniper hide-out from being discovered in hostile territory.
On May 11, 2007, Sgt. Vela shot Genei Nasir al-Janabi, after al-Janabi spotted Vela and five other U.S. snipers hiding near the town of Iskandariya, southwest of Baghdad. After he shot al-Janabi, Vela planted an AK-47 on his body.
Vela admitted to killing Mr. al-Janabi but claimed it was an accident, blaming sleep deprivation and post-traumatic stress. The defense argued Vela had slept less than five hours in three days while out in hostile territory. Vela and the other snipers testified they traveled all night through swamps and canals, enduring extremely high temperatures and were administering IVs to each other to remain hydrated.
"Our military is pushed and stressed beyond breaking point,' said Robert Duncan, associate professor of political science. "You cannot have that kind of stress and not have it affect you. Some of these soldiers are on their second and third tours. We've been in Iraqi longer than World War II."
Vela's defense also claimed he lied about the incident afterwards partly due to his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Vela had initially been charged with premeditated murder and faced a possible life sentence, but the situation has changed since his court martial in Baghdad.
"It's a simple case," said Capt. Jason Nef, one of the two military prosecutors, to CNN News. "The reason is because Vela confessed on the stand that he lied. He confessed he killed an unarmed Iraqi."
Vela's commanding officer, Staff Sgt. Michael A. Hensley, testified that he ordered Vela to kill al-Janabi after the snipers had fallen asleep, and woke to find al-Janabi squatting three feet away from them. Hensley said that he ordered the man to lie on the ground when al-Janabi began yelling. Hensley testified that a group of "military-aged men" began to gather 100 yards away, and he ordered Vela to kill al-Janabi because it was the only way to keep the sniper hide-out from being discovered in hostile territory.
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