US soldier to face court martial over Iraqi deaths

VILSECK: A U.S. Army sergeant accused of involvement in the killing of four Iraqi prisoners faces a court martial.

The men were bound, blindfolded and shot before being dumped into a Baghdad canal in 2007.

Sgt. Michael P. Leahy Jr. on Wednesday waived his right to an Article 32 hearing _ the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing meaning his case will be referred to a court martial. No date was set for that.

The 26-year-old faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and obstruction of justice.

Leahy is the fifth of seven soldiers implicated in the incident to face a judge since August. Two soldiers have pleaded guilty and have agreed to testify against the others.