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Sniper 'protecting his men'
03/07/2008 13:59 - (SA)
California - A Marine sniper charged in the shooting deaths of two Syrians told a military court on Wednesday he believed he was protecting his troops from a roadside bomb.
Sergeant John Winnick II is charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter and failing to adhere to the military's rules of engagement by firing without reasonable certainty that his targets were hostile.
The June 2007 shooting began after a soda delivery truck stopped near a sniper team hideout on a busy road near Lake Tharthar, north of Ramadi in Iraq's western Anbar province, where roadside bombs were a common threat.
Winnick fired a fatal shot at a man who hopped out of the cab, removed a container or bag from a side compartment, and appeared to begin digging at the ground, according to testimony from his comrades. He then killed a second man with a shotgun after the team stormed out of their hiding place.
A cursory search of the soda truck after the shooting did not reveal any bomb-making material. The truck went missing from the road before Marine investigators conducted a thorough investigation.
"I did this action in defence of my Marines," Winnick told Marine investigating officer Captain Jeffrey King. "I didn't want them to end up like other Marines I have seen."
Poor judgment
King will recommend to Marine commanders whether there is enough evidence to bring the 24-year-old to court-martial.
An intelligence officer who oversaw Winnick's team testified that he relieved the sniper of duty the day after the shooting because Winnick showed poor judgment by not calling a nearby Marine post for backup.
"It didn't appear to be an immediate threat," Captain Oliver Dreger testified.
Winnick and his team had only been in Iraq a few days when the shooting happened. He was on his fourth deployment.
A platoon leader testified on Tuesday that the men were confused about when they were allowed to shoot in uncertain circumstances. Lieutenant Dominic Corabi told King two of his own superiors disagreed about the rules, and testified that a commanding officer said as long as a sniper used "sound reasoning" he wouldn't get in trouble.
Winnick faces up to 40 years in prison and dishonourable discharge if he is tried and convicted on all counts, which also include charges of aggravated assault against two truck passengers who were injured in the firefight.
Latest criminal case
Several other men on the team were reprimanded after the shootings, according to prosecutors.
Winnick's is the latest war-related criminal case to emerge from Camp Pendleton.
The Haditha case was the largest criminal prosecution to emerge from Iraq. Eight Marines were initially charged with murder or failing to investigate, but charges were dropped or dismissed against six and one was acquitted of charges that he failed to investigate.
An eighth Marine, Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, is the only one still facing prosecution. He faces voluntary manslaughter and other charges.
- AP
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