Report: Soldiers killed handcuffed Iraqis

NEW YORK, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Military statements allege three U.S. Army soldiers killed four handcuffed Iraqis in 2007 after being told by superiors to release them.

The sworn statements were given by two of the soldiers, Sgt. Joseph P. Mayo and Sgt. Michael P. Leahy Jr., to Army investigators, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Mayo and Leahy's statements allege they each killed one detainee while First Sgt. John E. Hatley killed two in March or April of 2007, the Times reported. The four detainees were shot in the head and their handcuffs and blindfolds removed before their bodies were pushed into a canal in Baghdad, the Times reported, quoting the statements.

Hatley's lawyer, David Court didn't respond to calls and e-mail messages left for him Tuesday, the Times reported. The three soldiers haven't been charged with a crime.

Last month, four other soldiers from the same unit were charged with murder conspiracy for allegedly cooperating with the plan to kill the detainees, who had been ordered released by Army superiors advising Hatley's unit, the Times reported.