Dustin Berg

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Dustin Berg is a former American soldier who pled guilty to shooting his partner, an Iraqi police officer named Hussein Kamel Hadi Dawood al-Zubeidi.

Berg initially told investigators that he had been shot by the Iraqi police officer and then returned fire, killing him. Capt. Dan Stigall, who prosecuted the case, said Berg stuck with that story until 2004, when he admitted killing the Iraqi policeman.

Berg later claimed that, while on patrol with his Iraqi partner, he had a sudden premonition that his partner represented a danger to him. So he shot him three times, killing him.

Berg then shot himself in the stomach with his dead partner's weapon, so that he could claim he fired in self-defense. Berg's self-inflicted gunshot wound caused a relatively minor injury.

Berg's case is notable because his claim of self-defense was initially believed, and he was awarded a purple heart for the event that later earned him detention, demotion and a Bad Conduct Discharge. Although Berg admitted shooting himself, his Purple Heart was never formally revoked.

On May 24, 2005, Berg pled guilty, to negligent homicide, making false official statements, and self-injury in a hostile-fire zone. He received an 18-month sentence and a Bad Conduct Discharge from the U.S. Army.

During his guilty plea, Berg noted, I feel great remorse. As a result of my ignorance, the Iraqi police officer left behind a 2-year-old daughter and a wife. I went to Iraq to make a better life for everyone else. By also shooting myself, I took away all the good I tried to do.

Berg was defended by Charles Gittins, an officer in the United States Marine Corp Reserve who defends American servicemen in his civilian practice.

[edit] External links

• "Guardsman will face court-martial", Fox News, Saturday, March 5, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
• "Indiana guardsman admits guilt in Iraqi death", USA Today, May 25, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
• "Criminal cases against U.S. soldiers stemming from deaths of Iraqis", USA Today, August 2, 2006 8/2/2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
• "Judge allows testimony in soldier's trial", USA Today, May 23, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
• "Ind. Guardsman charged with Iraq murder", USA Today, February 8, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
• Brett Barrouquere]]. "Guardsman says he shot Iraqi police officer in self-defense, admits shooting himself", San Diego Union Tribune, May 23, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
• Monica Davey. "Soldier's murder trial spurs debate on war zone killings", International Herald Tribune, Tuesday May 24, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
• "Nation in brief", Washington Post, March 6, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
• "Criminal cases against U.S. soldiers stemming from deaths of Iraqis", Dallas Morning News, June 30, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.