Sergeant sentenced for Iraqi’s drowning
FORT HOOD, Texas – An Army platoon sergeant who ordered his soldiers to throw Iraqis into the Tigris River was sentenced Saturday to six months in military prison, but will not be discharged.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Perkins was convicted Friday of two counts of aggravated assault, assault consummated by battery and obstruction of justice. He was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter and making a false statement.
He did not testify during his trial, but before he was sentenced Saturday told the jury of Army officers and enlisted members that his actions were wrong – although he did not apologize to the Iraqis. He said he still loved the military and did not want to lose his job.
“If I had to go back, I would definitely do something different on those days,” Perkins said, wiping away tears.
Perkins, 33, and another soldier were accused of ordering soldiers to push two Iraqis into the river in Samarra in January 2004. Prosecutors say Zaidoun Hassoun, 19, drowned and his cousin, Marwan Hassoun, climbed out of the river.
Defense attorneys contended Zaidoun may still be alive, but say if he is dead it was not at the hands of U.S. soldiers.
The six-man military jury – which decided against the manslaughter conviction – also reduced Perkins’ rank by one grade to staff sergeant, which cuts his pay and responsibilities.
Jurors considered a sentencing range of no punishment to a dishonorable discharge, rank reduction and 11 1/2 years in prison. Prosecutors had recommended five years in prison and a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge.
Perkins was taken to the Bell County Jail because Ford Hood has no jail. It could take up to a week to determine where he will serve his sentence.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys declined to comment after the sentencing.
Before deliberations began, the prosecutor, Capt. Megan Shaw, said Perkins had jeopardized the U.S. mission because insurgents were using the incidents to spread anti-American propaganda.
The defense attorney, Capt. Tom Hurley, urged the jurors to consider Perkins’ numerous military awards.
Marwan Hassoun testified that he tried to save his cousin by grabbing his hand, but the powerful current swept Zaidoun away. Marwan said the body was found in the river nearly two weeks later.
Perkins did not discuss specifics of the incident Saturday, but admitted he had ordered his soldiers to throw an Iraqi man into the river in December 2003.
Perkins said the man had made a gesture of slitting his throat.
He said he never meant to injure or kill the Iraqi by throwing him in the river; and he ordered him thrown in the river to teach him a “hard lesson” about threatening U.S. troops. He testified he saw the man climb out alive.
“Basically the enemy would test your resolve. … I didn’t want them to think we were soft or weak,” said Perkins, who has 14 years of military service.