Jury convicts 4 Blackwater guards in slaying of unarmed civilians in Iraq
After about two months of trial and seven weeks of deliberation, a federal jury in Washington, D.C., has convicted four former Blackwater Worldwide private security contractors in the 2007 slaying of more than a dozen unarmed civilians in Iraq.
Charged with killing 14 civilians and injuring 17, the four were convicted on counts ranging from murder, in one defendant’s case, to manslaughter, according to the New York Times (reg. req.), the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) and the Washington Post (reg. req.).
Nicholas A. Slatten, who was alleged to have fired first, was convicted of murder. Dustin L. Heard, Evan S. Liberty and Paul A. Slough were found guilty of manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and firearm charges in the District of Columbia district court case.
The defense argued that the four acted appropriately when, after responding to a car bombing in four armored trucks, they opened fire with machine guns and grenade launchers on Nisour Square in Baghdad to what defendants say was attack by insurgents that included incoming AK-47 gunfire targeting the Blackwater team.
However, prosecutors contended that the four overreacted and fired indiscriminately into a crowd.
At least two of the defendants are expected to appeal.
“The verdict is wrong,” attorney David Schertler, who represents Heard, tells the Post. “We’re devastated. We’re going to fight this every step of the way.”
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Appeals Court Reinstates Charges Against Blackwater Security Guards in Iraqi Shootings”
