3 US soldiers charged with murder in Iraq deaths

[David]

AP


FRANKFURT, Germany - The U.S. Army has charged three soldiers with murder for their role in the killing of Iraqis last year.

Authorities say the Iraqi men were blindfolded, shot in the head and dumped in a Baghdad canal around April 2007 in alleged retribution for casualties within the 172nd Infantry Brigade.

The Army said in a statement released Wednesday that Sgt. John Hatley, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph P. Mayo and Sgt. Michael P. Leahy Jr. — all formerly assigned to 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment — face charges premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and obstruction of justice.