Marine admits Fallujah murder on tape

Marine admits Fallujah murder on tape
Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:36:44
A US Marine sergeant accused of murdering an unarmed Iraqi captive during heavy fighting in Fallujah in 2004 was heard on tape as saying he "did one guy."

The recording played by military prosecutors was made when Sgt. Ryan Weemer, 25, was applying for a job with the US Secret Service.

In the interview, Weemer said he and other squad members killed four unarmed Iraqis they were holding in a boarded-up house because they didn't have time to take the men to a jail.

"We called up to the platoon leader and the response was, 'Are they dead yet?'" Weemer said on the tape.

"We didn't take any prisoners. ... They didn't have weapons. They were just sitting there," Weemer went on. "We argued about it, but we had to move, we had to get out, our unit's moving down the street. I did one guy and then ... I just left, went out to my team."

Weemer is charged with one count of murder and six counts of dereliction of duty encompassing failure to follow the rules of engagement in Fallujah and failing to follow standard operating procedures for apprehending or treating detainees or civilian prisoners of war.

He faces a life sentence in military prison and dishonorable discharge if he is convicted of murder, and up to six months' imprisonment for each dereliction count.

The killings on Nov. 9, 2004, came after the squad captured men they believed had been shooting at them from a house.