U.S. contractor charged with slaying

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- An American defense contractor has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of an Afghan man who attacked a colleague, court records show.

Don Ayala of New Orleans, who once guarded top foreign leaders but now is with BAE Systems in Afghanistan, was charged in U.S. District Court in Alexandria in the fatal Nov. 4 shooting of Abdul Salam, an Afghan civilian, The Washington Post said.

Records showed Ayala and Paula Loyd, a fellow contractor, were with a U.S. Army platoon on a walking patrol in the Afghan village of Chehel Gazi when they came upon Salam.

According to reports, Salam lit a container of flammable liquid and threw it on Loyd, setting her on fire and severely burning her. Witnesses said Ayala then shot Salam in the head, killing him instantly.