The five men, who face a variety of charges including manslaughter in relation to the killing of 17 people, gave themselves up following prolonged legal action with their lawyers claiming that it was a "politically motivated prosecution". The guards, however, gave themselves up in Utah, their home state, and want the case tried at Salt Lake City where, their legal teams hold, they can find a generally conservative poll of jurors supportive of the Iraq war. The prosecution had been demanding that the surrender takes place in Washington where trials for alleged crimes abroad are normally tried and will ask a Federal judge to ensure the trial takes place in the US capital.
The five men, who face a variety of charges including manslaughter in relation to the killing of 17 people, gave themselves up following prolonged legal action with their lawyers claiming that it was a "politically motivated prosecution".
The guards, however, gave themselves up in Utah, their home state, and want the case tried at Salt Lake City where, their legal teams hold, they can find a generally conservative poll of jurors supportive of the Iraq war. The prosecution had been demanding that the surrender takes place in Washington where trials for alleged crimes abroad are normally tried and will ask a Federal judge to ensure the trial takes place in the US capital.
US guards indicted over the 2007 fatal shooting of 17 Iraqis used machine guns and grenade launchers against unarmed civilians, prosecutors have said. The guards, from the US security firm Blackwater, were contracted to defend US diplomats. The firm says its guards acted in self-defence. The five men are charged with 14 counts of manslaughter, as well as weapons violations and attempted manslaughter. A sixth guard has pleaded guilty to killing at least one Iraqi. The Iraqi government has welcomed the move to hold "criminals accountable". The killings, which took place in Nisoor Square, Baghdad, have become a central issue in Iraq's relationship with the US and raised questions about the oversight of US contractors operating in war zones. Witnesses and family members maintain that the shooting on 16 September 2007 was unprovoked.
US guards indicted over the 2007 fatal shooting of 17 Iraqis used machine guns and grenade launchers against unarmed civilians, prosecutors have said.
The guards, from the US security firm Blackwater, were contracted to defend US diplomats. The firm says its guards acted in self-defence.
The five men are charged with 14 counts of manslaughter, as well as weapons violations and attempted manslaughter.
A sixth guard has pleaded guilty to killing at least one Iraqi.
The Iraqi government has welcomed the move to hold "criminals accountable".
The killings, which took place in Nisoor Square, Baghdad, have become a central issue in Iraq's relationship with the US and raised questions about the oversight of US contractors operating in war zones.
Witnesses and family members maintain that the shooting on 16 September 2007 was unprovoked.
The 2004 amendment to 18 USC Sec. 3267 incorpoates the following wording:
As used in this chapter: (1) The term "employed by the Armed Forces outside the United States" means - (A) employed as - (i) a civilian employee of - (I) the Department of Defense (including a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department); or (II) any other Federal agency, or any provisional authority, to the extent such employment relates to supporting the mission of the Department of Defense overseas; I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
