Four American soldiers could face death penalty for Iraq excess

WASHINGTON: Four US soldiers could face execution for allegedly killing three Iraqi detainees after an Army investigator recommended they be tried on charges of murder and conspiracy, US media reported on Sunday.

The four, who were arrested in June, stand accused of killing three men during a May raid near the Muthana Chemical Complex in Salaheddine province.

The Los Angeles Times and Washington Post, which obtained copies of the recommendation from Lieutenant James Daniel, reported that he found that the four intentionally killed the prisoners and conspired to cover up the murders by saying the men tried to escape.

Raymond Girouard, William Hunsaker, Corey Clagett and Juston Graber, all from the 3rd Battalion of the 101st Airborne based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, face charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. All four have proclaimed their innocence.

They are also accused of threatening to kill another soldier if he spoke of their crime.

The Times stressed that military executions are rare. The last US soldier to be put to death was hanged after being convicted of raping and trying to kill a child while he was stationed in Europe in 1961.