U.S. Navy medic admits role in Iraqi murder case

CAMP PENDLETON, California (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy medic admitted on Friday to participating in the kidnapping of an Iraqi civilian but avoided murder charges in a plea deal in which he agreed to testify about his own role and that of seven Marines in the Iraqi's death.

Petty Officer Melson Bacos, 21, and the seven Marines he accompanied on an April patrol were charged with seizing Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, from his home, killing him and placing an AK-47 assault rifle and shovel next to his body to suggest he wanted to plant a roadside bomb.

A Purple Heart recipient with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Bacos was the first to plead guilty for his role in the Hamdania case. The murder was one in a series of incidents in which the conduct of American troops in Iraq have hurt the country' image worldwide.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061006/ts_nm/iraq_marines_plea_dc