US Army Sniper NOT Guilty of Murder

Newsday ^ | Septemeber 28, 2007 | KATARINA KRATOVAC

[Paige]

BAGHDAD - A military panel Friday acquitted U.S. Army Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval on charges he killed two unarmed Iraqis, but it convicted him of planting evidence on one of the men in attempt to cover up the shooting. Sandoval, 22, of Laredo, Texas, had faced five charges in the April and May deaths of two unidentified men. He was found not guilty of the two murder charges, but the panel decided he had placed a detonation wire on one of the bodies to make it look as if the man was an insurgent.

[xzins]

The investigation into the alleged murders began when two soldiers, Pfc. David Petta and Spc. Alexander Flores, complained that members of their unit were planting weapons on their targets to make the killings look legitimate.

But according to transcripts of a July hearing for Hensley and Sandoval, several members of the unit testified that Petta and Flores were liars and poor soldiers.

Spc. Joshua Michaud testified that Vela told him he had spoken with Petta and Flores about allegations that they were sleeping on duty. When Vela told them he was considering referring the two for a disciplinary hearing, Michaud testified, they said they would report Vela and others to their supervisors for planting weapons and other items.

On May 11, Flores testified that Vela, under orders from Hensley, executed an Iraqi national who had discovered his sniper hideout. After the man was shot with a 9 mm handgun, Flores said, Hensley grabbed an AK-47 assault rifle and laid it across the Iraqi's body.

Capt. Matthew Didier, the unit's ground forces commander, testified that he gave Hensley permission to order the "close kill" of an Iraqi national May 11 based on Hensley's word that he saw the man carrying an AK-47.

Finally, we know how the charges got started.

The questions now have to do with Petta & Flores. Did they witness such a thing? Do they have proof?

I pray that Sgt Hensley has a good lawyer.

[KTM rider]

thanks for your service and good points,

the "hearts and minds" strategy is foolish

American soldiers don't lose wars. The american politicians, the pentagon, and the MSM certainly will

BTW my dad was in Okinawa 1945 Marines I/3/29/6

[Marine_Uncle]

It was just a matter of time before this soldier would be exonerated.

[RedRover]

Were you ever able to make any contact with the family? I tried and failed.

[bigheadfred]

From what I can gather, Hensley and Vela were the only two

present, at the time of the shooting. Vela’s atr. 32 is

supposed to begin tomorrow night, so maybe we will know

more soon.
Didn’t I read somewhere that Flores planted the wire in

the Sandoval case, but isn’t that what the court-martial

convicted Sandoval of, some help here.

GREAT post #57

[freema]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[xzins]

I have no contact with the family.

I’ll try again.

I think they’re from Candler. That’s about an hour from my folk’s place in NC. I’ll let you know what I find out.

[RedRover]

Thanks, Steve. As they say, if not us, who?

[Future Snake Eater]

Seems to me they are more afraid of the courts then the enemy.

In too many ways we are. However, in general, even if you do something "wrong," the chain of command will back them as long as they're honest about what they did and the circumstances surrounding it. However, that same fear of the courts drives theses Soldiers to lie about what they've done.

[txroadkill]

The other night I was watching an interview of some WWII vets. One of them served in a rifle company and the interviewer asked him why, since he had a law degree, he hadn't gone into the JAG Corp. The vet said, "we weren't trying to sue Hitler."

[xzins]

It’ll be us.

[Girlene]

Good article. Thanks for posting, Red.

Curtis Callahan, father of Sgt. Vela - "the man ... the myth ... the hippie printer," he said he's no Hanoi Jane. - LOL. GOOD!

It is shameful that our troops' families must pay such a high cost, whether it's for civilian defense lawyers, travel fees because they are forced to travel to Baghdad, you name it to defend themselves. You'd think we were paying them the big bucks. And that's only the financial part of it.

[Girlene]

...why, since he had a law degree, he hadn't gone into the JAG Corp. The vet said, "we weren't trying to sue Hitler."

Great come-back! He knew what was important to actually win a war.

[RedRover]

Hopefully, there’ll be news, good news, tomorrow.

I’m staggering off to bed, Girl. Don’t stay up late. And keep the music down.

[RedRover]

Roger that.

[xzins]

BTW, excellent info at #60.

Thanks.

[Girlene]

Nite, Red.

[Ciexyz]

Crying shame indeed.

[billmor]

The poor kid planted a wire on the insurgent?..That’s proof that the guys are more concerned about after battle legal problems than they are in getting the job done....what a pity.

[Girlene]

Didn’t I read somewhere that Flores planted the wire in the Sandoval case, but isn’t that what the court-martial convicted Sandoval of, some help here.

From NewsDay Army Sniper Acquitted of Murder in Iraq

..."Sandoval was convicted of a less serious charge of planting detonation wire on one of the bodies to make it look like the victim was an insurgent. As a result, he still could face five years in prison. The seven-member jury deliberated less than two hours in clearing him of all but one charge.

Spc. Alexander Flores, of Hayward, Calif., who was in the same squad as Sandoval on the day of the April killing, testified their platoon leader said the suspect was "our guy" and ordered them to "move in," which they interpreted as "take the target out."

The suspect, who wore dark clothing and used a sickle to cut grass in a field, matched the general description Iraqi soldiers had given the Americans of one of two insurgents they had faced earlier in the day, according to testimony.

After the killing, Flores said Staff Sgt. Michael Hensley told him (Flores) to place the detonation wire on the body and in the man's pocket, which he said he did.

But prosecutors cited an interview with Sandoval immediately after his arrest in which he said he planted the wire. Outside court, Flores stood by his testimony.

"He was just doing his job, as he was told. It's not his fault," said Flores, who, along with the rest of Sandoval's sniper platoon, greeted him with hugs and well wishes."....

More at the article about Evan Vela.