US Army Squad Commander Convicted of Leading "Kill Team"

A former US army squad commander has been found guilty of leading a "kill team" that murdered unarmed Afghan civilians and collected body parts as trophies. Staff Sergeant Calvin Gibbs, 26, was convicted of all 15 charges of murder, assault, conspiracy, and other crimes over the killings of three Afghans in separate incidents last year. Gibbs faces multiple life sentences, but pleaded with the military judge to keep open the option of parole to be with his son. The prosecution called Gibbs a "mission-driven killer" who incited other soldiers to commit atrocities, while Gibbs claimed he was "just following orders" and took responsibility for collecting body parts as trophies.

Key Takeaways:

• Staff Sergeant Calvin Gibbs, 26, led a "kill team" that murdered unarmed Afghan civilians and collected body parts as trophies.
• Gibbs was convicted of all 15 charges of murder, assault, conspiracy, and other crimes over the killings of three Afghans in separate incidents last year.
• Gibbs recruited other soldiers to murder civilians, calling them "savages," after he took over command of a US army platoon in Kandahar in November 2009.
• The military prosecutor, Major Rob Stelle, compared Gibbs' actions to a "mission-driven killer" who incited other soldiers to commit atrocities.
• Gibbs was convicted of murder for inciting the killing of 15-year-old Gul Mudin as he worked in a field.
• Gibbs was also convicted of shooting dead Marach Agha, who was sleeping by a road, and planting a Kalashnikov next to him to make it look as if he was a fighter.
• Two other soldiers, Jeremy Morlock and Adam Winfield, have already been convicted for their part in the killing.
• Gibbs and other soldiers collected fingers, teeth, and other body parts as trophies and took photographs of themselves next to their dead victims.
• The jury heard testimony from Morlock and Holmes, who described Gibbs' behavior as "evil incarnate" and "mindless killings."
• Gibbs denied responsibility for the killings but admitted to slicing off body parts from Afghans, including the fingers of a man, and keeping them as trophies.

Statistics:

• Gibbs was convicted of all 15 charges of murder, assault, conspiracy, and other crimes.
• Two other soldiers, Jeremy Morlock and Adam Winfield, have already been convicted for their part in the killing.
• Morlock received a prison sentence of 24 years, and Holmes received a sentence of 7 years for their roles in the killing.
• Winfield was jailed for three years for involuntary manslaughter for failing to prevent other soldiers from attacking Afghan civilians.

Sources:

• Chris McGreal, Washington, "US army squad commander convicted of leading 'kill team'", The Guardian, (date not specified)