Soldiers plotted to kill Afghan civilians: Army
Published: Aug 26, 2010 21:03 Updated: Aug 26, 2010 21:03
SEATTLE: Five soldiers accused of killing civilians in Afghanistan are now facing additional charges of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder — a plot that allegedly began when one soldier discussed how easy it would be to "toss a grenade" at Afghan civilians, The Seattle Times reported Wednesday.
The five soldiers were charged with murder in June for the deaths of three Afghan civilians in Kandahar Province this year. According to charging summaries newly released by the Army, additional allegations of conspiracy have since been filed against those soldiers, and seven others have been charged in connection with the conspiracy or with attempting to cover it up.
The new charges arose from the investigations into the killings and into a brutal assault on an enlisted man who had informed on soldiers smoking hashish, The Times reported. The informant reported hearing soldiers talk about killing civilians.
The Army told The Associated Press Wednesday that it is redacting charging documents that detail the new allegations and expects to release them next week.
As part of the widening probe, investigators have interviewed platoon mates and defendants, The Times reported, citing documents that defense attorneys filed with an Army magistrate judge, as well as interviews with defense attorneys. Two of the defense lawyers did not immediately respond to e-mails from the AP on Wednesday.
Some platoon members told investigators that Army Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs began joking with other soldiers last December about how easy it would be to "toss a grenade" at Afghan civilians and kill them, the newspaper said. One soldier responded that it was a stupid idea, and another believed Gibbs was "feeling out the platoon." But eventually, Gibbs formed what one called a "kill team" to randomly execute Afghan civilians while on patrol, the documents said. No motive was discussed.
Gibbs has denied any involvement in the killings.
All of the three who were killed were shot. Two were also hit with grenades in what has proved to be one of the most serious war-crimes cases to emerge from the Afghan war.
Anyone who dared to report the events was threatened with violence, investigators were told.
Gibbs, 25, of Billings, Montana, and Spc. Jeremy Morlock, 22, of Wasilla, Alaska, were charged in June with three counts each of premeditated murder and one count of assault, and they have emerged as central figures in the case.
Morlock has made extensive statements to investigators — statements that his attorney, Michael Waddington, said he hopes to have suppressed because they were made under the influence of prescription drugs taken for head injuries sustained in battle.
"Our position is that his statements were incoherent, and taken while he was under a cocktail of drugs that shouldn't have been mixed," Waddington said. "What he said is not consistent with other evidence that comes out of the case." Three other soldiers were charged in June with one count of premeditated murder: Pvt. 1st Class Andrew Holmes, 19, of Boise, Idahoho; Spc. Michael Wagnon II, 29, of Las Vegas, Nevada; and Spc. Adam Winfield, 21, of Cape Coral, Florida.
All five are awaiting court martial and could face life in prison or death if convicted. They are assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
The three civilians killed near the Army's Forward Operating Base Ramrod in southern Afghanistan were identified as Gul Mudin, killed in January; Marach Agha, killed Feb. 22; and Mullah Adahdad, killed May 2.
Comments
IMTIYAZ LOYA
Aug 27, 2010 07:43
Report abuseASPUR
Aug 28, 2010 00:18
Report abuseLook what happened to the Iraqi army when it invaded Kuwait. How many stories are there of Iraqi soldiers killing, torturing and molesting the civilians. This done to their fellow arab/muslim brothers and sisters. I doubt they were procecuted by Sadam, it took the US and Saudis to make them pay. This is just another reason to avoid war until the last resort.
UBAID
Aug 28, 2010 17:46
Report abuseWhere is Machrystal?