US officer charged with premeditated murder of wounded Iraqi News
US officer charged with premeditated murder of wounded Iraqi

[JURIST] Second Lt. Erick J. Anderson has been charged with premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit premeditated murder for the shooting of a wounded Iraqi man, the US military said Monday. The military has been investigating whether Anderson gave permission to two soldiers to shoot an injured Iraqi man, whom they thought would die anyway from his injuries. Staff Sgt. Cardenas Alban appeared for a pre-trial hearing before a military court last month and the second soldier involved in the incident, Staff Sgt. Johnny Horne, is scheduled to appear before a judge at a later date. Read the Central Command press release and more from AFP.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.