Raymond L. Girouard

Raymond L. Girouard is a Staff Sergeant of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. He was found not guilty by court martial jury in Fort Campbell, Kentucky of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6461215.stm US soldier guilty in Iraq killing] ] , though he was convicted of negligent homicide as well as obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. [ [http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-soldier16mar16,1,2215931.story?coll=la-news-a_section Sergeant denies ordering 3 Iraqis killed - Los Angeles Times ] ]

Co-defendants Private First Class Corey R. Clagett and Specialist William B. Hunsaker both received reduced sentences for their testimony in connection to the accused execution of three male detainees on 9 May, 2006. On June 21, Specialist Juston R. Graber, at that time 20, was charged with premeditated murder, attempted premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder and making a false official statement. Graber has since been given immunity for what was termed a "mercy killing," in return for his testimony against Girouard and the other defendants. The police in Salahudin Province are investigating. On September 2, 2006, Army investigator Lt. Col. James P. Daniel Jr. recommended the death penalty for the soldiers involved in the killing.

The Accusers

Pvt. William B. Hunsaker and Pfc. Corey R. Clagett, have testified in court that Girouard told them to cut off the detainee's plastic zip ties, order them to run, then shoot them. The defense is maintaining that commanders gave an order to kill all military-aged males the unit encountered on an island in Tharthar Lake, 60 miles northwest of Baghdad, a suspected Al Qaeda base. [cite web|date= 2007-03-14 |title=101st Airborne soldier's murder trial opens |work=LA Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/complete/la-na-soldier14mar14,0,1177722.story |accessmonthday=14 March |accessyear=2007]

The star government witness was SPC Bradley L. Mason, of Altus, Oklahoma. Fact|date=March 2007 The 20-year-old soldier was the first to insinuate to American authorities that the killings of three Iraqis during Operation Iron Triangle were premeditated murder instead of combat. He made his first statement to the Army's Criminal Investigation Division 60 days after the incident, after his lengthy--and failed--attempt to get out of both Iraq and the Army.

Upon searching his bunk in connection with the investigation, the Army found thousands of photographs depicting child pornography on his computer. Mason also admitted during the Article 32 that he had told others of a desire to go to Thailand and engage in sex with "nine-year-old girls." He narrowly missed having three Article 15's added to his record in Iraq before the incident, due largely to the influence and help of SSG Girouard, who advocated on his behalf to Army commanders. Mason has also been given full immunity for all charges and crimes in return for his testimony, and was recently promoted to the rank of E-4, or Specialist.

During the Article 32, Mason admitted lying under oath in several statements to the Army regarding the events in the case.

Also testifying from Girouard's squad for the government are Specialist Juston R. Graber and Sergeant Leonel Lemus.

Notes & references

External links

* [http://euphoricreality.com/wp-content/uploads/IronTriangleArt32Transcript.doc Complete Article 32 Transcript]
* [http://blogtalkradio.com/showlauncher.aspx?show_id=7777&link_type=stream_downloads&link=http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/blogtalkradio/show_7777.wax Girouard's family members discussing the case on radio show The Front Line]