Third soldier charged in murder of 3 Iraqis

Above: Paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 501 Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division -- the same unit as the soldiers charged with murder -- line up to load into a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter at the start of night-time air assault raids on 'enemy sanctuaries' from Forward Operating Base Iskandariyah on June 4. On May 12th an attack in the area of the alleged murders left 5 soldiers dead and 3 soldiers captured, resulting in a weeks-long massive search involving over 10,000 soldiers.

BAGHDAD — A third U.S. soldier has been charged with murder in the death of an Iraqi citizen, the military announced Monday.

Sgt. Evan Vela, of Phoenix, Idaho, is charged with one count of premeditated murder, one count of wrongfully placing a weapon with the remains of a deceased Iraqi, one count of making a false official statement, and one count of obstruction of justice. Vela is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division of Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Charges against Vela were preferred Sunday, and he was placed in pretrial confinement the same day.

Read the rest at Army Times

Related Link:
Two soldiers charged with murder of three Iraqis, coverup