U.S. soldier sentenced to life for killing Iraqi

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A U.S. soldier has been sentenced to life in jail for his involvement in the killing of four Iraqi prisoners who were shot and dumped in a canal two years ago. “Sgt Michael Leahy Jr had confessed to investigators that he shot an Iraqi in the back of the head from close range,” according to the BBC. “His lawyers argued that the stress of being in a conflict zone for so long meant he was unable to reason properly,” it added. A panel at a Germany-based court martial sentenced the 28-year-old army medic to life in prison, the BBC said. “The victims were a group of Iraqis who were detained briefly and questioned over an attack on a Baghdad military base. “Leahy was one of a group of soldiers who took detainees away after it was decided there was not enough evidence to charge them. “Blindfolded and gagged, the four were then shot and dumped in a canal,” it added. “During interrogation in January 2008, Leahy told military investigators he had shot an Iraqi in the back of the head with a pistol.” “‘The tragedy resulted not so much by design but rather the working of fear, danger and madness attendant on many combat operations,” Frank Spinner, Leahy’s lawyer, said. SS (S) 1