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OFKU0 · 12-10-2004, 11:43 PM

U.S. soldier pleads guilty to killing wounded Iraqi teen

Last Updated Fri, 10 Dec 2004 11:09:18 EST

BAGHDAD - A U.S. soldier pleaded guilty at his court martial Friday to killing a critically injured 16-year-old Iraqi, the military says.

Staff Sgt. Johnny Horne, 30, of Winston-Salem, N.C., was charged with the death on Aug. 18 in Baghdad's Sadr City, the site of heavy fighting between coalition forces and militants loyal to Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Witnesses described the incident at previous military court hearings as a mercy killing.

Court heard that several U.S. soldiers fired on Iraqi men who were placing homemade bombs along a road. They moved closer to find a blazing truck surrounded by injured people.

Witnesses said Horne and other soldiers tried to rescue an Iraqi teenager inside the truck who had gaping wounds in his abdomen and serious burns.

A military investigator told court that the soldiers thought he was too ill to survive and decided that "the best course of action was to put [the victim] out of his misery."

Horne also pleaded guilty to a charge of trying to get a colleague to commit murder.

The U.S. military said Horne would be sentenced Friday.

Written by CBC News Online staff

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/nation...al-041210.html
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This isn't meant to be a American bashing thread.

I just have to know because I don't know what to believe anymore. Is this some isolated case of someone that did what they did and it never happens?,..or does this happen a hell of a lot more than most people know, maybe even more than some in charge know? Is there a flaw in the training approach that triggers the death switch in some people?

12-10-2004, 11:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
OFKU0 Junk	U.S soldier pleads guilty U.S. soldier pleads guilty to killing wounded Iraqi teen Last Updated Fri, 10 Dec 2004 11:09:18 EST BAGHDAD - A U.S. soldier pleaded guilty at his court martial Friday to killing a critically injured 16-year-old Iraqi, the military says. Staff Sgt. Johnny Horne, 30, of Winston-Salem, N.C., was charged with the death on Aug. 18 in Baghdad's Sadr City, the site of heavy fighting between coalition forces and militants loyal to Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Witnesses described the incident at previous military court hearings as a mercy killing. Court heard that several U.S. soldiers fired on Iraqi men who were placing homemade bombs along a road. They moved closer to find a blazing truck surrounded by injured people. Witnesses said Horne and other soldiers tried to rescue an Iraqi teenager inside the truck who had gaping wounds in his abdomen and serious burns. A military investigator told court that the soldiers thought he was too ill to survive and decided that "the best course of action was to put [the victim] out of his misery." Horne also pleaded guilty to a charge of trying to get a colleague to commit murder. The U.S. military said Horne would be sentenced Friday. Written by CBC News Online staff http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/nation...al-041210.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This isn't meant to be a American bashing thread. I just have to know because I don't know what to believe anymore. Is this some isolated case of someone that did what they did and it never happens?,..or does this happen a hell of a lot more than most people know, maybe even more than some in charge know? Is there a flaw in the training approach that triggers the death switch in some people? __________________ " In Canada, you can tell the most blatant lie in a calm voice, and people will believe you over someone who's a little passionate about the truth." David Warren, Western Standard.