Throw Down

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Sgt. Evan Vela was found guilty Feb. 10 on one specification of unpremeditated murder during a general courts martial at Camp Liberty Courthouse.

Vela, a Soldier in 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne, was on trial for the murder of an Iraqi man as part of operations May 11 in Jurf as Sakhr.

Vela was found guilty under Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline -- wrongfully placing an AK-47 on the remains of a deceased person.

He was also found guilty under UCMJ Article 107 for making a false official statement.

The Army Ranger was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing an unarmed Iraqi detainee and planting a machine gun near his body to mislead investigators.

----- Vela is guilty of what US cops are known to do, shooting the unarmed, planting evidence. Supposedly this Iraqi man was shot out of fear he might alert "insurgents" in the area - cops have less reason.

Years ago we would say to one another when leaving some place - "Be careful, don't be no accident." That was when "throw downs" were becoming too obvious and cops began mistaking candybars, wallets, hairbrushes as weapons.