Army soldier cleared of manslaughter in Iraqi drowning case

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http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D87FNG0G1.html

An Army platoon sergeant was acquitted Friday of involuntary manslaughter but convicted of assault in the drowning death of an Iraqi civilian who was forced into the Tigris River by armed U.S. troops.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Perkins, 33, had been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Zaidoun Hassoun's death after he and his cousin, who had violated curfew, were forced into the cold river near Samarra in January 2004.

The six-man jury of Army officers and enlisted members, who deliberated 17 hours over two days, considered lesser charges. They convicted him of assault consummated by battery in Zaidoun's death. That carries a maximum sentence of six months.

Perkins, with 14 years of military service, was found guilty of aggravated assault in connection with Marwan Hassoun, the cousin who survived. Perkins was also found guilty of aggravated assault for ordering a soldier to throw another Iraqi man into the river in December 2003 near Balad.