Soldier denies killing Iraqi civilians

CANDLER, N.C. – A soldier charged with killing Iraqi civilians and trying to cover up the deaths told his parents he is not guilty, and that “all my kills are legitimate,” a newspaper reported Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. Michael A. Hensley, of Candler, N.C., and Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval Jr., of Laredo, Texas, are accused of killing three Iraqis and placing weapons on their bodies to portray them as combatants.

“First thing all of you should know is that all my kills are legitimate and I am innocent of these charges,” Hensley wrote in an e-mail to his parents Thursday, the day he was charged, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported.

Hensley’s parents are missionaries in Macedonia. They told the newspaper that the e-mail was the last communication they had with their son, who revealed nothing about the circumstances around the deaths.

Military prosecutors said the deaths occurred separately between April and June near Iskandariyah, a mostly Sunni Arab city south of Baghdad.

The investigation began after military authorities received reports of alleged wrongdoing from fellow soldiers, the Army has said.

Hensley and Sandoval were charged last week with three counts each of premeditated murder, obstructing justice and “wrongfully placing weapons with the remains of deceased Iraqis.”

Sgt. Evan Vela, from southeastern Idaho, was charged Sunday with one count of premeditated murder, making a false official statement and obstruction of justice, the military said.

All three soldiers are assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska. They are being held in pretrial confinement.