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 The Sept. 16 incident stood out for its brazenness and formed a
tense backdrop to talks between the United States and Iraq over the
continued presence of U.S. forces in Iraq. It also sparked debate
over private security contractors working for the U.S. government in
war zones.
The four guards opened fire with machine guns and grenade launchers
on the Iraqis, including women and children, at Nisur Square. A
heavily armed, four-truck Blackwater Worldwide convoy the men were
in had been trying to clear a path for U.S. diplomats.
Nicholas Slatten, 31, of Tennessee was convicted in October of
killing the driver of a car the defendants had argued at trial they
believed contained a bomb.
 Paul Slough, 35, of Texas; Evan Liberty, 32, of New Hampshire; and
Dustin Heard, 33, of Tennessee, who were convicted of manslaughter,
were each sentenced to 30 years in prison, the mandatory minimum
they faced.
Momentarily choking up before he passed sentence in front of a
packed court room, U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth said it
was an extraordinary case.
"It's clear these fine young men just panicked," he said. "But the
overall wild thing that went on just cannot be condoned by this
court."
In addition to the killings, 17 Iraqis were injured.
North Carolina-based Blackwater was sold and renamed several times
after the incident. It is now called Academi, based in northern
Virginia.
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U.S. federal prosecutors had called the guards' action "horrendous"
and urged longer sentences for Slough, Liberty and Heard.
In court today, Fatimah Al Fahdwi, whose 9-year-old son was killed,
held up a picture of him before the judge.
"Why did you guys do this to me?" she said to the men, breaking down
in tears. "Why did you guys kill my son?"
In their statements, all four former guards maintained their
innocence.
"I could not and I did not kill your son," Slough said to the
family. "I feel utterly betrayed by the same government I served
honorably."
Lawyers for all four men said they would appeal.
(Editing by Doina Chiacu and Ted Botha)
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