Soldier says sergeant planned Afghans’ killings

A U.S. Army staff sergeant dreamed up a plan for fellow soldiers to kill three Afghan civilians this year because he was motivated by “pure hatred,” another soldier accused in the slayings has told investigators.

In videotaped and written statements to Army investigators, Spec. Jeremy Morlock, 22, a member of the 5th Stryker Combat Brigade, admitted his involvement in the killings, which took place in Kandahar province between January and May. Morlock sought to shift blame for the plot to his squad’s staff sergeant, Calvin Gibbs, who he said planted the idea with their unit of killing innocent Afghans for sport.

“Gibbs had pure hatred for all Afghanis and constantly referred to them as savages,” Morlock said in one statement, details of which were first reported by the Associated Press.

Morlock, Gibbs and three other U.S. soldiers have been charged with murder in the deaths of the three Afghan civilians.

Details of Morlock’s statements emerged Monday during a pretrial hearing in a military courtroom at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., home of the 5th Stryker Brigade.

Morlock’s defense attorney has sought to toss out his client’s statements, arguing that Morlock was under heavy medication when he talked to Army investigators in May. His statements are considered key evidence against other defendants as well.

Anderson Wagner, a special agent with the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command, testified at the hearing that Morlock’s statements were backed up by other members of his unit and that he did not appear unduly influenced by medication.

“He made good eye contact,” Wagner said by telephone from Kandahar, according to the AP. “He was able to recount events that happened several months ago.”