Topic: US sailor to testify on Marines' role in Iraqi killing

Team Infidel

Media: The Associated Press
Byline: By THOMAS WATKINS
Date: 05 October 2006

Body:


CAMP PENDLETON, California_A Navy corpsman accused of kidnapping and
murdering an Iraqi man will give testimony about seven Marines' role in the
incident in return for having charges against him dropped, his attorney
said.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Melson J. Bacos was a medic who patrolled with the
Marine squad that allegedly kidnapped and murdered 52-year-old Hashim
Ibrahim Awad last April in the town of Hamdania. All eight were charged with
crimes including premeditated murder and kidnapping.

"We have reached an agreement with the government which will take Bacos out
of harm's way," attorney Jeremiah Sullivan III told The Associated Press on
Wednesday.

Under the deal, Bacos will give details of the incident Friday morning at a
general court martial at Camp Pendleton, Sullivan said. In return, all of
the charges against him will be dismissed. But he will plead guilty to two
new charges, said Sullivan, who declined to elaborate.

When asked if Bacos would be freed after Friday's testimony, Sullivan said
he would not be.

Marine Lt. Col. Scott Jack, Bacos's military attorney, also declined to
elaborate on the deal, but said: "It is a very beneficial agreement for
Bacos, and gives him an extremely bright future."

Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Sean Gibson said it would be inappropriate to
comment on any potential negotiations between the accused and the
prosecution.

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