Former Blackwater guards jailed for 2007 civilian deaths
A former Blackwater guard has been sentenced to life in prison and three others to 30 years over the killing of 14 Iraqi civilians in 2007.
Clockwise from top left: Dustin L. Heard, Nicholas A. Slatten, Evan S. Liberty and Paul A. Slough
Nicholas Slatten and three others were convicted last year for the killings in Baghdad's crowded Nisoor Square. A further 17 Iraqis were injured as the private contractors opened fire to clear the way for a US convoy.
The shootings sparked international outrage and a debate over the role of defence contractors in warfare.
Slatten faced a charge of murder, while the other men faced multiple counts of manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and using firearms while committing a felony.
In a court in Washington DC, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard were all sentenced to 30 years in prison for their involvement in the killings.
The men had claimed that they were under fire from insurgents but prosecutors successfully argued what happened was an unprovoked ambush against civilians.
The sentences were announced following a day-long hearing in which the defendants reaffirmed their innocence and their lawyers unsuccessfully argued for leniency.
Prosecutors argued that the sentences be made even harsher because the ex-guards had never expressed any remorse.
But US District Judge Royce Lamberth rejected both requests, saying that in light of the seriousness of the crimes, the penalty was not excessive.
