I shot blindfolded Iraqi prisoner at point-blank range, confesses U.S. soldier



A U.S. soldier confessed to military investigators that he shot a bound and blindfolded Iraqi prisoner point-blank in the back of the head, according to a video played at his murder trial today.

Sgt Michael Leahy, 28, told the Germany-based investigators that after shooting the first prisoner, he turned his 9mm pistol on another captive.

‘The detainee I shot fell back on me,’ he said in the videotape of the January 2008 interrogation played at his trial in the Army's Rose Barracks' courtroom.

Reconciliation: A U.S. soldier plays soccer with a boy in Bayji, 250km (180 miles) from Baghdad, in November 2007. Six months earlier, relations with Iraqis were far less peaceful

‘I turned to the right and saw the other detainee flinch, and turn his head after he heard the shot. My weapon was pointed toward him, my weapon was anywhere from a foot to a couple of inches away. I hit him in the side of the head, the face, anywhere from the ear forward.’

But the shot didn't kill the second man, so Master Sgt John Hatley, 40, finished him off with a shot to the chest, Leahy said.

‘I'm ashamed of what I've done,’ he said in the video, occasionally wiping tears from his eyes and holding his face in his hands. ‘I don't consider myself a murderer. I made a huge mistake. I'll accept the consequences.’

Leahy has pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and obstruction of justice in the deaths of a total of four Iraqi prisoners, who were dumped in a Baghdad canal in 2007 after they were killed.

Leahy is also being tried for the alleged murder of another Iraqi who was shot while in his care as a medic in January of 2007.

The Illinois man faces a possible life in prison and dishonourable discharge if convicted.

Six soldiers including Leahy are accused of involvement in the slaying of the four prisoners sometime between March 10 and April 16, 2007. All were with the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq , which is now part of the Germany-based 172nd Infantry Brigade.

Leahy, Hatley and Sgt 1st Class Joseph Mayo, 27, are accused of pulling the trigger.

According to testimony at the court-martial, which began Tuesday, at least four Iraqis were taken into custody in spring 2007 after a shootout with a patrol that included five other accused soldiers.

The prisoners were taken to the U.S. unit's operating base in Baghdad for questioning and processing though there wasn't enough evidence to hold them for attacking the unit.

Later that night patrol members took the Iraqis to a remote area and shot them in retribution for the attacks against the unit, according to testimony.

Three soldiers are scheduled for later courts-martial. Sgt Charles Quigley, 28, of Providence , Rhode Island , faces one charge of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder. Mayo and Hatley are charged with premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder, and obstruction of justice.