Criminal Justice
‘Blood Money’ Wins Release of CIA Contractor Detained on Suspicion of Murder
A CIA contractor detained in Pakistan on suspicion of murder has won his freedom after the payment of “blood money” to families of the victims.
Raymond Allen Davis was charged with murder and then immediately pardoned in exchange for the compensation, the Associated Press, the New York Times and MSNBC.com report. The victims’ families signed court papers officially forgiving Davis.
Pakistani officials had endorsed the payment as the best solution after U.S. officials argued Davis had diplomatic immunity. He had been detained for the shooting deaths of two motorbike riders. U.S. authorities had claimed the shootings were a matter of self defense.
