Killing of Iraqi may have been 'premeditated'

[kpete]

Source: Killing of Iraqi may have been 'premeditated'
From Jamie McIntyre
CNN
Tuesday, June 6, 2006

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Navy investigators have evidence that U.S. Marines may have committed "premeditated" murder in the April shooting death of an Iraqi man in Hamdaniya, a military officer close to the inquiry told CNN.

The officer, who has direct knowledge of the preliminary findings of an investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), said some of the Marines now in pretrial confinement have admitted the circumstances of the civilian man's death were staged.

Their statements form part of the evidence that suggest the Marines -- from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment -- deliberately murdered the man, the source said.

"They went after someone, not necessarily this person, but they set out to get someone," the officer told CNN, referring to the Marines now under investigation.

The officer spoke to CNN under the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the case publicly.

more at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/05/iraq.probes/index.html