Army snipers acquitted of murder charges in killings of Iraqis using disputed tactics.

• Author: Crook, John R.

Several courts-martial that were hearing murder charges against soldiers and noncommissioned officers serving as Army snipers have ended in acquittals. These cases have drawn attention both to pressures by snipers' senior officers to increase the number of "kills," and to the tactic of planting ammunition and bomb-making materials in areas where enemy fighters are thought to be present, and of shooting persons who pick up the "bait" and attempt to depart. (1)

In November, a court-martial in Camp Liberty, Iraq, acquitted Staff Sergeant Michael Helnsley of charges of premeditated murder in connection with the killings of three Iraqi civilians in separate events April and May near Iskandariyah. Helnsley was a sniper and the platoon sergeant of a scout platoon. He was convicted of wrongfully placing an AK-47 rifle with the remains of one dead man and of showing disrespect to a superior officer; he was sentenced to time served, reduced in rank to sergeant, and given a letter of reprimand. Helnsley reportedly was brought into his battalion's sniper unit to improve its efficiency; he contended that he was being charged for using tactics encouraged by his senior officers. (2)

In September, a separate court-martial acquitted a second man in Helnsly's unit of related charges. The military jury of three officers and four enlisted men found Specialist Jorge G. Sandoval not guilty of murder in two killings but convicted him of planting copper trigger wire on one of the bodies. Sandoval was sentenced to five months in prison. Like Helnsley, Sandoval was charged with premeditated murder and wrongfully placing a weapon with the remains of a dead Iraqi. (3)

Article 32 proceedings are scheduled...