FORT LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash., Sept. 27 (UPI) -- A "crazy" U.S. sergeant chose three innocent Afghans to be killed for sport, one of his men allegedly told military investigators.
Cpl. Jeremy Morlock, 22, who grew up in Wasilla, Alaska, described the killings on a videotape made by the investigators, ABC News reported Monday.
He is accused of premeditated murder, along with Staff Sgt. Calvin R. Gibbs, Spc. Adam C. Winfield, Spc. Michael S. Wagnon II and Pfc. Andrew H. Holmes. They were part of the 5th Stryker Combat Brigade, of the 2nd Infantry Division, based at Fort Lewis-McChord, Wash.
The case includes allegations of widespread drug use, the collection of body parts and photos of the U.S. soldiers holding the Afghan bodies like hunter's trophies. The killings took place between January and May of this year.
Lawyers and family members of the soldiers say they all intend to mount rigorous defenses.
In an interview videotaped in May at Kandahar Airfield, and obtained by ABC News, Morlock admits his role in the deaths of three Afghans but says the plan was organized by Gibbs.
Morlock appeared, but did not testify at his Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a grand jury, at Fort Lewis-McChord. Others testified, however, he was using multiple prescription medications at the time of the killings, and use of hashish and other drugs was widespread in his unit, The New York Times reported.
In the videotape, Morlock described Gibbs as picking out an Afghan civilian at random for killing. Gibbs allegedly told Morlock and another soldier to shoot the man and then lobbed a grenade near the man.
"We had a clean line of sight for this guy and, you know, he pulled out one of his grenades, an American grenade, popped it, throws the grenade and tells me and Winfield: 'All right, wax this guy. Kill this guy, kill this guy,'" Morlock says on the video.
"He wasn't a threat."
A decision could be months away on what formal charges will be brought against Morlock, the Times said.
