U.S. army sniper given ten years for Iraq killing

A U.S. Army sniper has been given a ten-year sentence by a court martial at Camp Victory near Baghdad overnight, hours after being convicted of murdering an Iraqi citizen and then planting a weapon on the body to cover his actions.

Sergeant Evan Vela, 24, from Idaho, was found guilty at a hearing near Baghdad's airport, of shooting Nasir al-Janabi, an Iraqi man who had stumbled upon Sgt. Vela's group hiding position in the Sunni city of Iskandariyah south of Baghdad on May 11.

"Sergeant Evan Vela was found guilty on one specification of unpremeditated murder during a general courts martial," a statement from the US military said. He was also convicted of making false statements following the death.

Before the jury retired to consider the sentence Vela apologised saying, "When I came to Iraq, I didn't come to do anything wrong," he read from a handwritten statement.

"I failed my standards, your standards and the standards of the army. All I can say is I'm sorry and ask for mercy."

The incident occurred after six army snipers attached to Vela's group had been found in their “hide”  - a  place where snipers can observe their target without being seen – by Mr al-Janabi and his 17-year-old son Mustafa.

Both were released after being detained however Vela's commanding officer gave the order to shoot the elder al-Janabi after there were fears he was making too much noise and may alert others to their position.

Vela's fellow soldiers took the stand to testify the group was exhausted and sleep-deprived after more than two days of trekking in high temperatures through rough countryside around Iskandariyah, a mostly Sunni city 50 km south of Baghdad.

Sgt. Vela broke down on the witness stand while describing the incident to the court.  

"I don't remember pulling the trigger. I don't remember the sound of the shot," Vela said, "It took me a few seconds to realize that the shot came from my pistol."

He testified that after he shot al-Janabi, he unsuccessfully tried to shoot him again because "he was convulsing on the ground and I thought he might be suffering."

"I just didn't want him to suffer. It was something I've never seen and I got a bit scared," Vela said.

Mustafa al- Janabi, the murdered man's 17-year-old son, also gave evidence at the trial. "I know this criminal has a family, a wife and children," he said to the court.

"Just like they will miss him, we also miss our father. So I hope you will consider that and please not forget about us."

Sgt. Vela will also forfeit all pay and entitlements and receive a dishonourable discharge. His case will automatically be referred to a military court of appeal.