Dustin Hard, a former Blackwater security guard, left, with his lawyer, David Schertler at the U.S. District Court before surrendering to authorities in Salt Lake City, Utah on Monday. (Chris Detrick/Reuters)From The International Herald Tribune:
WASHINGTON: In the first public airing of an investigation that remains a source of international outrage, the Justice Department unsealed its case against five private security guards, built largely around the chilling testimony of a sixth guard about the 2007 shootings that left 17 unsuspecting Iraqi civilians dead at a busy Baghdad traffic circle.
In pleading guilty to manslaughter, the sixth security guard, Jeremy Ridgeway of California, described how he and the other guards used automatic rifles and grenade launchers to fire on cars, houses, a traffic officer and a girls' school. In addition to those killed, at least 20 people were wounded.
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More News On The Charges Against Blackwater Guards
US Details Case Against Blackwater Guards -- Los Angeles Times
Contractors Charged in '07 Iraq Deaths -- Washington Post
Blackwater security guards charged with killing 14 Iraqis -- AFP
Manslaughter Charges in Blackwater Case -- Wall Street Journal
Blackwater Guards Charged Over Iraq Deaths -- The Times
Contractors on Trial -- Washington Post editorial
Immunity claims complicate trial of Blackwater guards -- Sydney Morning Herald
Iraq security contractors face end to immunity -- Reuters
Bitterness at Blackwater shootings -- BBC
A Whitewash for Blackwater? -- Washington Post opinion