Court Overturned Murder Conviction Of Blackwater Mercenary Who Killed 14 Unarmed Civilians In Iraq
Originally should be in jail for life, a U.S. court overturned murder conviction of Blackwater mercenary. In 2007, this former American sniper killed 14 Iraqi civilians.
Aug 09, 201713228 Shares186314 Views
Slatten, a former Blackwater Worldwide security contractor, was sentenced with life imprisonment for the 2007 killings of 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Baghdad, according to a ruling issued on Friday.
The court also ordered re-sentencing for three others convicted of manslaughter in the case - Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard, who had previously been given 30-year sentences.
The New Ruling
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit panel said in the ruling:
“„The court concludes that the district court abused its discretion in denying Slatten’s motion to sever his trial from that of his co-defendants and therefore vacates his conviction and remands for a new trial.- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
The ruling added:
“„The court concludes that the imposition of the mandatory thirty-year minimum . . . violates the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment…. The Court, therefore, remands for the resentencing of Slough, Liberty. and Heard.- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
The judges also threw out one of Liberty’s convictions for attempted manslaughter.
The Baghdad Massacre
The 2007 massacre took place at a Baghdad traffic circle, where the four guards opened fire on unarmed Iraqi civilians, including women and children, killing 14 people and leaving 17 others wounded.
The incident sparked an international debate about the role of private security companies hired by the US government to work in war zones.
Slatten and the three other men were convicted in October 2014.
The private military company Blackwater, founded in 1997, was later sold and rebranded as Academi.
As the U.S. court overturned murder conviction of Blackwater mercenary, will the decision harbor protest from the families of the victims?
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