LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A witness in the court-martial trial
of a decorated US Navy SEAL charged with killing a captive teenage militant
while deployed to Iraq confessed on Thursday that it was he — not the
defendant — who put an end to the boy’s life.
Corey Scott, a first class petty officer, told the military court in San
Diego that while he had seen Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher stab
the wounded Islamic State group fighter in the neck in May 2017, he had
killed the boy afterwards.
He testified that he covered the victim’s breathing tube with his thumb and
then watched him die.
Scott said he did so to spare the boy — who prosecutors say was about 15
years old — from suffering or being tortured by Iraqi forces.
His bombshell testimony threw a wrench in the prosecution’s murder and
attempted murder case against Gallagher, who was supposed to be providing
medical treatment for the insurgent when he allegedly stabbed him.
Gallagher, 40, has denied the charges against him, claiming they were made
up by disgruntled subordinates under his command.
Prosecutors on Thursday argued that Scott’s version of events was a
fabrication and that he was lying to protect Gallagher.
Scott, who has been given immunity from prosecution, acknowledged during
questioning that he made the revelation to spare Gallagher, who is married
and has children, from going to prison.
Local news reports said Gallagher appeared jubilant following Scott’s
testimony, celebrating with his family outside the courtroom.
The charges against Gallagher, who is also accused of shooting two
civilians and firing indiscriminately at other non-combatants while in Iraq,
stem from testimony by men who were under his command in the special
operations branch of the US Navy. – ‘Boasted about killing’ –
According to court documents, some members of the “Alpha” platoon were so
horrified by Gallagher’s behavior that they tampered with his sniper rifle
and fired warning shots to scare civilians away before he had time to open
fire on them.
They told investigators that Gallagher, who began his career as a medic,
would brag about the number of people he had killed.
One platoon mate who testified on Wednesday said he saw Gallagher fatally
stab the teenage IS militant. Gallagher allegedly then posed with the boy’s
body for photographs and texted the pictures to fellow SEALs.
“Good story behind this one,” one text message read, according to
prosecutors. “Got him with my hunting knife.”
When some of the other SEALs expressed reservations over the killing,
prosecutors say Gallagher’s response was: “I thought everyone would be cool
with it. Next time it happens, I’ll do it somewhere where you can’t see.”
Gallagher also stands accused of attempted murder for the wounding of two
civilians, a schoolgirl and an elderly man, who were shot while walking along
the Tigris River. The case has proven divisive in the US, where he remains a
war hero to some.
His cause has been championed by around 40 Republican members of Congress,
as well as the Fox News channel, which is popular among conservatives.
President Donald Trump last month also expressed support for Gallagher and
hinted that he may be pardoned along with other military service members
accused of war crimes.
The trial, which began on Monday, is expected to last up to three weeks.
If convicted, Gallagher faces up to life in prison.