Key evidence in Stryker war crimes case remains secret

[unhappycamper]

Key evidence in Stryker war crimes case remains secret
By Adam Ashton | Tacoma News Tribune
Posted on Sunday, January 16, 2011

TACOMA, Wash. — From video-taped confessions to written sworn statements to voluminous investigative reports, little information has remained concealed as the Army held hearings at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for 12 Stryker soldiers accused of war crimes and misconduct in Afghanistan.

Yet a few documents and images are under wraps as legal proceedings unfold for the soldiers in the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Five of the men are accused of murdering three civilians last year, crimes that drew international headlines about an Army “kill team” slaughtering Afghans for fun.

The restricted documents and images include:

• About 60 images of Afghan casualties that were seized from some of the defendants. Some images reportedly show soldiers posing with dead Afghans as if the dead were hunting trophies, according to testimony in court.

• Official service photos of Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs and Staff Sgt. Robert Stevens. Gibbs is charged with all three murders and is awaiting a court-martial. Stevens pleaded guilty last month to shooting at unarmed Afghans and lying about the incident.

[Solly Mack]

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