Heavy prison terms for ex-Blackwater guards over 2007 killings in Iraq
Lengthy prison sentences handed down to four men involved in deadly Baghdad shooting
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 14 April, 2015, 10:35pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 15 April, 2015, 3:25am
Associated Press in Washington
A former member of Blackwater outside the federal court in Washington, where four former guards stood trial. Photo: AP
A US federal judge sentenced one former Blackwater security guard to life in prison and three others to 30-year terms for their roles in a 2007 shooting that killed 14 Iraqi civilians and wounded 17 others.
The carnage in Baghdad's Nisoor Square caused an international uproar over the use of private security guards in a war zone.
US District Judge Royce Lamberth sentenced Nicholas Slatten, who witnesses said was the first to fire shots in the incident, to life on a charge of first-degree murder. The three other guards - Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard - were each sentenced to 30 years and one day in prison for charges that included manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and using firearms while committing a felony.
In their first public statements since the shooting, the former contractors - appearing in leg shackles and prison garb - insisted they are innocent.
"I cannot say in all honesty to the court that I did anything wrong," Heard told the judge.
Lamberth announced the sentences after a day-long hearing in which defence lawyers had argued for leniency and presented character witnesses for their clients, and prosecutors asked that those sentences - the minimum mandatory under the law - be made even harsher. He rejected both requests.
From left: Former Blackwater guards Dustin Heard, Evan Liberty, Nicholas Slatten and Paul Slough.
"Based on the seriousness of the crimes, I find the penalty is not excessive," Lamberth said.
All four were convicted in October for their involvement in the killings in the crowded traffic circle in downtown Baghdad. The legal fight over the killings has lasted years.
Prosecutors described the shooting as an unprovoked ambush of civilians and said the men haven't shown remorse or taken responsibility.
Defence lawyers argued the men were targeted with gunfire and acted in self-defence. Assistant US Attorney Patrick Martin urged the court to consider the gravity of the crime as well as the number of dead and wounded and to "count every victim".
"These four men have refused to accept virtually any responsibility for their crimes and the blood they shed," Martin said.
Video monitors in the courtroom showed photos of the dead and wounded, as well as images of cars riddled with bullets or blown up with grenade launchers fired by the guards.
The aftermath of the shooting.
The defence argued for mercy, saying decades-long sentences would be unconstitutionally harsh for men who operated in a stressful, war-torn environment and who have proud military careers and close family ties.
But Lamberth said he would not deviate from the mandatory minimum sentences, noting that similar stiff penalties have been applied to police officers who commit crimes while carrying automatic weapons as part of their jobs.
Mohammad Kinani Al-Razzaq spoke in halting English about the death of his nine-year-old son, Ali Mohammed Hafedh Abdul Razzaq.
"What's the difference between these criminals and terrorists?" Razzaq said.
