Posted on Wed, Feb. 07, 2007
Sailor details Hamdania killing at Marine's sentencing hearingTHOMAS WATKINS
Associated Press
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A Navy medic told a military court Wednesday that one of his
closest friends - a Marine corporal he regarded as a brother - was instrumental in the
kidnapping and killing of an Iraqi man last year.
Prosecutors called Seaman Recruit Melson J. Bacos as a witness during Cpl. Trent D.
Thomas' sentencing hearing. Thomas pleaded guilty Jan. 18 to murder, kidnapping and
other charges as part of a plea deal. He was one of seven Marines who along with Bacos
were charged in the April 26 slaying of Hashim Ibrahim Awad in the Iraqi town of
Hamdania.
-snip-Bacos implicated other squad members in his testimony. He told prosecutors that after
Awad was dead, squad leader Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III said, "Congratulations, we just
got away with murder, gents."
-snip-Full article:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/16647535.htmAlso:
Marine leader said to have boasted of Iraq murder - Reuters