US soldier jailed for murder of Iraqi detainees

A US soldier was sentenced today to 18 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to murdering three detainees during a raid on a suspected al-Qaida compound in Iraq last year.

Special William Hunsaker, 24, pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder and obstruction of justice during a hearing at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Under a plea agreement, Hunsaker's rank will be reduced to a private, his pay will be forfeited and he will be dishonourably discharged.

Military judge Colonel Theodore Dixon also levied a life sentence with parole that would be implemented if Hunsaker violates the terms of his plea agreement, which requires him to cooperate with prosecutors bringing cases against other US soldiers accused in the crime.

Hunsaker's family members flooded the courtroom and wept when the sentence was read out. They declined to speak to the media.

In testimony during his court-martial, Hunsaker said he took "careful aim" at the detainees and tried to make it as "professional" as possible. He said he shot two detainees in the chest and head.

As part of a plea agreement, charges that Hunsaker had threatened another soldier's life if he told authorities of the killings were dropped.

Hunsaker was one of four soldiers charged with the killings that followed a May 9 raid at the Muthana chemical complex near Samarra, about 60 miles north of Baghdad.

The soldiers originally told investigators they shot detainees because they were attempting to flee - a story they now say they made up - and that commanders told them to kill all military-age males.

Corey Clagett, 21, and Staff Sgt Raymond Girouard, 24, are awaiting courts-martial in the coming months. Special Juston Graber, 21, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a lesser charge of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon as part of an agreement to cooperate with prosecutors. He was sentenced to nine months in military jail.

During today's hearing, Hunsaker recounted a meeting with his squad leader during which he said a plan to kill detainees in their custody was discussed. Hunsaker said Girouard gave the order.

"He told us to cut the zip ties, tell them to run and shoot them," Hunsaker said. "I went out and did just that."

The case is one of two involving US soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division accused of killing Iraqis during a deployment to Iraq that ended in September.

Four other soldiers from the division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team are accused of raping and killing an Iraqi teenager and killing three others in her family last March. A former Army private also faces murder and rape charges in civilian court.