Tigris Iraqi death not proven - sentence six months

A day after being acquitted of manslaughter in the alleged [sic] death of an Iraqi civilian, a U.S. Army soldier was sentenced to six months in jail Saturday for mistreating three detainees and lying about his actions.

Although one of the detainees testified his companion drowned, court-martial jurors concluded that no death was proven, but they convicted him late Friday on two aggravated assault charges and single counts of assault and obstruction of justice.

"If I had to go back, I would definitely do something different on those days," said Perkins, wiping away tears. [of joy..db] Link

In January 2004 the mother of Zaydun Ma'mun Fadhil Hassun Al-Samarrai had written an open letter to Bush, Blair, Jacques Chirac and others in the hope that justice would prevail.

.......On Saturday the 3rd of January 2004, my son and his cousin were travelling back to our residence in Samarra, they were driving a small cargo truck belonging to a third party from which they earn their livelihood in a country torn by wars and sanctions. Yes, they were back from Baghdad yet misfortune followed them from the beginning, their car broke down on the road which caused a delay in their arrival to Samarra when the curfew hour was just about to start in the city...And this is where the first chapter of the tragedy takes place. An American army patrol stood in their way, and after they went through the whole procedure of searching my son and his cousin, and inspecting the cargo load, they tied them up both and led them to an area about three kilometres from the scene and...in front of one of the gates of the Tharthar dam where water flows at its strongest rate and to my son and his cousin's horror, they ordered them to jump into the water, it was midnight and the cold was unbearable, when they hesitated, they were pushed by the soldiers. Unfortunately my boy cannot swim.....

Healing Iraq have the letter in full plus report - see 'An Iraqi family's tragedy' Link