Whistleblower spc. investigated in shooting - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Whistleblower spc. investigated in shooting

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Army is investigating a former 101st Airborne Division soldier — who brought to light charges his comrades raped an Iraqi teenager — for his role in a separate shooting at a checkpoint that left a woman dead.

Spc. Justin Watt, who is now assigned to Fort Benning, Ga., has been barred from leaving the Army on a medical discharge until an investigation concludes, said his attorney Kenneth David of Tallahassee, Fla.

In letters between David and the Army’s Criminal Investigations Division, the military has alleged “credible information” exists to believe Watt obstructed justice by trying to cover up a shooting in December 2005 that has been under investigation for more than a year.

But David said the allegations could be retribution for Watt’s role in helping military prosecutors identify five soldiers charged last year with raping and murdering an Iraqi teen and killing her family.

“Justin Watt has been the Army’s shining star in terms of honesty and integrity. He put himself at risk to get this information out,” David said Friday.

Watt, who served with the Army’s 502nd Infantry Regiment, was the first to approach commanders with suspicions fellow soldiers had committed a crime after overhearing discussion of the March 12, 2006, attack.

Five soldiers were initially charged in the attack, which was one of the war’s worst atrocities. Four were convicted for their roles and given sentences ranging from five to 110 years.

A fifth suspect, former soldier Steven D. Green, awaits a federal trial in Kentucky where he faces the death penalty if convicted.

The investigation of Watt centers on a shooting that took place at a checkpoint near Mahmoudiya, about 15 miles south of Baghdad. A soldier, unidentified in the documents, fired at a truck rushing a checkpoint.

The shot “inadvertently” killed a woman inside, the letters said.

Investigators said sworn statements from other soldiers last month question the legitimacy of the shot, and say Watt and other members of his unit covered it up.

The 502nd Infantry Regiment is part of the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade based at Fort Campbell, Ky., a sprawling military facility on the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

The military on Friday was unable to provide additional information about the investigation.

The shooting was alluded to during a court-martial in August for Pfc. Jesse Spielman, who was convicted of rape and murder in the attack on the Iraqi family.

James Culp, an attorney who represented Spc. James Barker in his rape and murder trial last year, said authorities have been investigating the shooting involving Watt for more than a year.

“After CID realized how completely ineffectual the command was — and how undisciplined the entire platoon and company had become — they went back and looked at that shooting and saw the version of events that had been provided to them early were not credible,” Culp said.