[JURIST] The US Army [official website] has charged one non-commissioned US military officer and two US soldiers in the deaths of three Iraqi detainees while they were in custody in the northern Salahuddin province of Iraq, according to a statement [text] released by the Multinational Corps-Iraq (MNC-I) [official website] Monday. The three soldiers have been charged with several violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice [text], including charges of murder, attempted murder, communicating a threat, obstructing justice, and conspiracy.

A criminal investigation into the deaths [JURIST report], which occurred on May 9, was ordered by Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli [official profile] on May 17 after other soldiers voiced concerns. The soldiers have the right to an Article 32 [backgrounder] hearing now that they have formally been charged to determine if their cases will be referred to a court-martial proceeding. AP has more.