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US medic in Iraq kidnap plea deal Medic says marines murdered Iraqi
(about 5 hours later)
A US Navy medic has pleaded guilty to helping kidnap an Iraqi civilian in Hamdaniya, while agreeing to testify about his comrades' roles in his death. A Navy medic has told his court-martial in California how US marines seized an Iraqi civilian, threw him into a hole and shot him in the head 10 times.
Petty Officer Melson J Bacos's plea bargain means he will not face murder charges for the April killing. US Petty Officer Melson J Bacos has agreed a plea bargain to avoid murder charges and will testify against seven marines in later hearings.
Seven marines are at various stages of the military justice process over the kidnap and murder of Hashim Awad. The medic said the incident in the western Iraqi town of Hamdaniya in April made him "sick to my stomach".
The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of murdering civilians in Iraq. The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of killing Iraqis.
'Planting bomb' 'I knew it was wrong'
According to charge documents presented to the military court, the troops had entered the town near Baghdad searching for an insurgent. Petty Officer 3rd Class Bacos admitted kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to file a false statement as part of the plea bargain at the court-martial in Camp Pendleton, southern California.
Failing to find the suspect, the men are alleged to have grabbed Mr Awad from his home and shot him. Petty Officer Bacos said he was on patrol with the marine squad who were looking for an insurgent - Saleh Gowad - who had been captured three times but released.
It was further alleged that an assault rifle and a shovel were left by the body, apparently to make it look like the man had been planting a roadside bomb and had been killed in a gun battle. href="/1/hi/world/americas/5105284.stm" class="">Other US investigations
Last month the US military said three marines would be tried for murder by a military tribunal. Petty Officer Bacos said the marines were angry the insurgent had been freed and, frustrated at not finding him, instead seized civilian Hashim Awad from his home.
Pte John Jodka was accused of firing at the victim, Corp Marshall Magincalda was accused of kidnap and binding the victim's feet, while L/Cpl Jerry Shumate was alleged to have fired his rifle at him and to have lied to investigators about what had happened. The medic said Mr Awad, 52, was put in a hole.
The US statement said the death penalty would not be sought against any of the three marines, although it was available in the case of premeditated murder. He testified: "I knew that we were doing something wrong. I tried saying something, sir."
But he said a marine told him to "quit being a pussy".
Petty Officer Bacos said squad leader Sgt Lawrence Hutchins III then fired three shots into Mr Awad's head followed by at least seven more rounds to the head from Cpl Trent Thomas.
Petty Officer Bacos said Sgt Hutchins called command for permission to fire on a man he had seen digging a hole.
Prosecutors say an AK-47 assault rifle, bullets and a shovel were placed next to Mr Awad's body to make it appear as if he were trying to plant a roadside bomb.
Seven marines are at various stages of the military justice process over the kidnap and murder.
Two marines - John Jodka and Marshall Magincalda - have both already pleaded not guilty to murder.
The US military has said the death penalty will not be sought against any of the marines.
Presiding judge Col Steve Folsom said Petty Officer Bacos could face a life sentence if found guilty but media reports have said it could be as little as 12 months.