US soldier faces hearing on 2004 Iraqi ‘mercy killing’ News
US soldier faces hearing on 2004 Iraqi ‘mercy killing’

[JURIST] An Article 32 hearing [JAG backgrounder; UCMJ text] has commenced for US Army Second Lt. Erick J. Anderson, accused of murder for his role in the death of an Iraqi teenager who was suffering from severe wounds in the aftermath of a US attack, to determine whether he should face court-martial. Two soldiers in Anderson's platoon, Staff Sgts. Johnny Horne Jr. and Cardenas Alban, were convicted of killing the Iraqi youth "to put him out of his misery." Both served one year in jail for their crimes. Prosecutors initially dropped charges against Anderson [JURIST report] in January 2005 because of a lack of evidence but the case was transferred back to Fort Riley [official website] for further review. The new charges were filed in October [JURIST report] 2005. Anderson becomes the seventh member of the infantry battalion to face murder charges in the past year. AP has more.

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