U.S. Soldier Receives Prison Term

U.S. Soldier Receives Prison Term For His Role in Killing of Four Iraqis
Associated Press

A United States soldier was sentenced eight months in prison on Thursday for the killing of four Iraqi prisoners in Iraq. He pleaded guilty to charges accessory to murder for his role in these killings. The prisoners were found bound, blindfolded, shot, and dumped into a canal.

The prosecutor, Capt. John Merriam, pressed for the maximum of five years in prison.

Spc. Ribordy testified that he had helped stand guard as the killings happened by other members of his patrol in 2007. He approached the scene after, seeing the four bodies in pools of blood. He told the court he saw three other members of his patrol at the scene; Sgt. John E. Hatley, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph P. Mayo, and Sgt. Michael P. Leahy Jr.

He claims that "they all seemed very calm" after and he helped move the bodies into the canal.

"I wasn't ordered or asked in any way, shape or form to move the body," Spc. Ribordy told the court. "I wanted to get it done and get out of there -- I didn't want anybody getting in trouble."

He told Judge Grammel he was sorry for his actions.

"The execution of prisoners is arguably the greatest crime," Merriam said at Spc. Ribordy's court martial. "It betrays everything soldiers stand for."

**When I read this article I was taken back by the small amount of time these soldiers have to spend in prison for their actions. I believe that being charged for eight months in prison is not very legitimate for these murders. I can see that them being U.S. soldiers definitely makes the case different, but I don't believe that eight months is long enough for someone to face consequences for such an extreme act. The prosecutor pressed for maximum of five years, and they only got charged with eight months. Those Iraqi prisoners weren't just shot, but they were bounded, blindfolded, shot, and just dumped into a ditch. This article really proves that there are other things going on in Iraq within the war.

Link: U.S. Soldier Receives Prison Term