Five US Blackwater guards in Iraq charged with manslaughter David Edwards and Muriel Kane

Published: Monday December 8, 2008





Print This Email This US: Blackwater used grenades on unarmed Iraqis; Lawyer says Blackwater guards 'beyond innocent'



Five guards with the US security firm Blackwater who were accused of gunning down 17 Iraqis in 2007 were charged with manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and weapons violations, the Justice Department said Monday.



"The indictment charges five Blackwater security guards with voluntary manslaughter, attempt to commit manslaughter for the shooting in Baghdad, Iraq," said Justice Department spokesman Patrick Rowan.



"In addition, we can report that a sixth guard has pleaded guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and attempt to commit manslaughter for the same shooting," Rowan said.



"Blackwater Worldwide security guards opened machine gun fire on innocent, surrendering Iraqis and launched a grenade into a girls' school during a gruesome Baghdad shooting last year, prosecutors said Monday in announcing manslaughter charges against five guards," the Associated Press reports.



The accused face up to 10 years in jail if convicted on the manslaughter charge, seven if found guilty of attempted manslaughter, and 30 for the weapons violations charge, said Jeff Taylor, Attorney for the District of Columbia.



The defendants, all under age 30, worked as independent contractors for Blackwater Worldwide, which provided security services for diplomats and other officials in Iraq.



"While there were dangers in Baghdad in September 2007, there were also ordinary people going about their lives, performing mundane, daily tasks," said Rowan.



"For the safety of these people, as well as US government personnel and their own colleagues, security guards were obligated to refrain from firing powerful weapons," he said.



According to the 35-count indictment, the indicted men opened fire with automatic weapons on unarmed civilians in a square in Baghdad on September 16 last year, killing and wounding several dozen Iraqis.



"Today's indictment and guilty plea should serve as a reminder that those who engage in illegal attacks on civilians in times of conflict or peace will be held accountable," said Rowan.



The accused turned themselves in, in the southwestern state of Utah, where they are due to appear in court later Monday, the officials said.



Defense attorneys for the guards told reporters that their clients intend to please not guilty. One of the attorneys said of his client, "He is beyond innocent." Blackwater has consistently maintained that its men were fired upon by insurgents and were simply returning fire.



CNN speculates that the defense may have sought the Utah venue with the thought that a conservative state would be more sympathetic to the defendants. However, the judge might yet order the case moved to Washington, DC, where the indictment was issued.





This video is from CNN's Newsroom, broadcast Dec. 8, 2008.









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Justice Department press conference











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(with wire reports)



