Military Law
Navy SEAL Acquitted in Beating of Alleged Mastermind of Blackwater Guard Attacks
A military jury deliberated for only two hours before acquitting a Navy SEAL accused of failing to prevent the beating of an Iraqi prisoner suspected of masterminding an attack on four Blackwater security contractors.
Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas was found not guilty of dereliction of duty and attempting to influence the testimony of another service member, according to the Associated Press and CNN.
The alleged victim, Ahmed Hashim Abed, had testified he was tied to a chair, forced to wear a hood, and beaten, the AP story says. Defense lawyers argued Abed suffered only a cut to his lip and may have wounded himself to blame American soldiers.
Huertas was the first of three Navy SEALS charged in the incident to face trial.
