Convictions overturned against Girouard (Soldier charged with negligent homicide of Iraqi detainees)

[Ghost in the Machine]

Convictions overturned against Girouard

Published: 1:11 PM, 04/20/2011


Author: Tommy Millsaps
Source: The Monroe County Advocate



SWEETWATER-A Sweetwater soldier convicted of three counts of negligent homicide, conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, and violating a general order has successfully had the three negligent homicide charges taken off his record after an appeals process.

The story of Army Staff Sergeant Ray Girouard is well known not only in Sweetwater, but a across the nation as well.

The 2001 Sweetwater High graduate was originally charged with premeditated murder among many others charges in the May 2006 shooting deaths of three Iraqi detainees while he was leading troops in an U.S. Army operation on an island near Baghdad.

Army prosectors said the soldiers under Girouard intentionally let the detainees escape so they could shoot and kill them.

Girouard maintained he did not plan the killings. He escaped premeditated murder and other convictions in a 2007 court martial, but was still convicted of negligent homicide and other charges and sentenced to 10 years confinement, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction of rank to private, and a dishonorable discharge.

http://monroe.xtn.net/story/22129

[Ghost in the Machine]

1. Kick

:kick:

[gratuitous]

2. Isn't that nice?

Apparently it was a case of suicide by soldier as the fleeing unarmed men were gunned down "while attempting to escape." Long-time fans of American jurisprudence will recognize many of the hallmarks of similar cases wherein luckless detainees met their untimely demise while attempting to escape or resisting arrest. Or trying to swim away with more chains and shackles than they should have stolen.

[bahrbearian]

3. Free to join Chimpy and Cheney, not having to worry their Beautiful Minds