WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The public will not be able to attend a court hearing for five U.S. security contractors accused of killing 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians, a federal judge ruled.
U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina ruled Wednesday in Washington that a series of pretrial hearings for the Blackwater Worldwide security guards -- in which he will examine claims that that government is improperly using their own statements against them -- should be closed to avoid publicity that could taint a possible juror pool, The Washington Post reported.