By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
BAGHDAD, Iraq-A United States army soldier has been charged with two counts of premeditated murder over the deaths of two Iraqi civilians. Sergeant Michael Barbera will face a hearing dealing with the deaths that occurred on March 6, 2007.
Barbera was charged last Wednesday while stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. Accusations of these killings first came to light last December when a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review investigation published its article.
The report claimed that Sergeant Barbera was ordered by his team leader to kill two teenage cattle herders for the belief that they were insurgents operating out of a nearby farm, and a third boy later walking towards. However, the two boys were brothers, age 15 and 14, were both deaf and unarmed. None of the three boys had any ties to the insurgency.
According to the Tribune-Review, members of Sergeant Barbera’s squad reported the killings to Army investigators but no actions were taken. Frustrated at the lack of action, several squad members approached the newspaper with the story.
Of the three deaths, Sergeant Barbera is only being charged with two deaths. Authorities have yet to release the names of the two people that Sergeant Barbera is accused of killing.
Sergeant Barbera is facing an Article 118 premeditated murder charge with two specifications of murder, and an Article 134 charge of two specifications of conduct prejudicial to order and discipline.
At the time of shooting, Sergeant Barbera was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. He is currently assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
He now awaits an Article 32 investigation hearing to determine whether he will face a court-martial. The hearing is scheduled to take place at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington, the same site of the trial for Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales who was sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to killing 16 Afghan civilians.
For more information, please see the following:
Al Jazeera-US soldier charged with murdering Iraqis-16 November 2013
Guardian-US soldier charged with murder over deaths of two Iraqi civilians-16 November 2013
Huffington Post-Michael Barbera, U.S. Soldier, Charged With Murder In Iraq War Killings-16 November 2013
Los Angeles Times-U.S. soldier charged with murder in killing of two Iraqi civilians-16 November 2013
