Medic describes cold-blooded random killing of Iraqi by US marines

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Saturday October 7, 2006

Washington- A US medic has described to a court martial in Camp Pendleton, California how marines he was on patrol with seized a physically handicapped father of 11, tied his legs and then killed him with shots to the head and chest, media reports said Saturday. Melson Bacos has been in custody since late May along with seven marines accused of murder in relation to the April 26 killing in the city of Hamdaniya.

He received a reduced sentence in return for giving evidence against the others and was expected to serve a further seven months.

In giving evidence Friday, Bacos related to the court how the leader of the unit, Lawrence Hutchins had intended to kill an insurgent who had been arrested several times but subsequently freed on each occasion.

The attempt failed after a family member warned the intended target, and Hutchins then directed his unit to a neighbouring house.

The seven marines hauled Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, onto the street. Two of the marines fired shots into Awad, killing him.

Another stole a spade and dug a hole at the roadside with the aim of representing Awad as an insurgent preparing a roadside bomb of the kind common in Iraq, according to Bacos' evidence.

The marines could face the death penalty, if found guilty.

Other similar incidents are under investigation by the US military.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency