US military opens full probe into killing of Iraq ambassador’s kin by Marines News
US military opens full probe into killing of Iraq ambassador’s kin by Marines

[JURIST] The US military announced Sunday that following a preliminary inquiry, the US Naval Criminal Investigations Service [official website] has been asked to launch a formal probe into the killing by US Marines of a relative of Iraq's UN ambassador during a June house raid. Engineering student Mohammed al-Sumaida'ie, the 21-year-old son of the first cousin of Ambassador Samir al- Sumaida'ie [official profile], was shot at his home in Haditha, a village in western Iraq. Shortly afterwards, Ambassador al-Sumaida'ie condemned the "cold blood murder" [statement] and called for an investigation [JURIST report]. The US military in Iraq routinely conduct raids looking for arms and insurgents, and has increased them since May; US officials insist that the raids are conducted with restaint, but many Iraqis have complained about the use of excessive force. Read the MNF Iraq press release. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Tojo and other Japanese WWII leaders executed for war crimes

On December 23, 1948, former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and six other Japanese war leaders were executed for war crimes in Tokyo.

Learn more about the Tokyo War Crimes Trials.

Terry Nichols convicted for Oklahoma City bombing

On December 23, 1997, Terry Nichols was found guilty of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter for assisting Timothy McVeigh in bombing the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. He was later sentenced to life in prison. On April 19, 1995, McVeigh detonated a truck bomb that gutted the building and killed 168 people, making it the deadliest terrorist attack on US. soil until the attacks of September 11, 2001. McVeigh was convicted for his role before Nichols on June 2, 1997. Learn more about the trials of Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh.