The Latest: Witness says he saw Navy SEAL stab prisoner
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Latest on the trial of a decorated Navy SEAL charged with killing an Islamic State prisoner in his care (all times local):
5:35 p.m.
A Navy SEAL has testified that he saw a comrade stab a wounded and captive Islamic State fighter in Iraq in 2017.
Then-Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Craig Miller, who has since been promoted to chief, testified Wednesday that Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher plunged his knife twice into the neck of the teenage prisoner after providing medical care.
Miller says blood spurted out of the militant's neck and he reported what he saw to an officer.
A defense lawyer pointed out inconsistencies between Miller's testimony and previous statements and suggested he pressured other sailors to fabricate statements.
Miller denied that accusation during Gallagher's court-martial.
Gallagher has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder.
Defense lawyers say Gallagher treated the wounded prisoner. They accuse disgruntled SEALs of lying to prevent him from being promoted because they didn't like his demanding leadership.
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This story has been corrected to fix the Miller's title.
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12:10 p.m.
A former Navy SEAL has testified at a court-martial about several occasions when a fellow sniper fired at Iraqi civilians.
Dylan Dille (Duh-LAY) told jurors Wednesday that he believed Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher shot an old man and fired at women walking along a river and a group of people getting water.
The defense objected to the testimony, saying descriptions of the alleged shootings were "wildly vague." But the judge allowed most of the testimony from Dille, who was a first class special warfare operator.
Dille says he was near Gallagher during the shootings but didn't see him pull the trigger.
Dille says Gallagher radioed that he thought he had missed after seeing the old man shot in Mosul in 2017.
Gallagher has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder in the death of a war prisoner and shooting of two civilians.
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9:56 p.m.
Photos displayed at a military court martial show a decorated Navy SEAL holding up the head of a dead Islamic State fighter by the hair while clenching a knife in his other hand.
A jury hearing testimony Wednesday will have to decide if it was a snapshot in poor taste of an enemy who died of battle wounds or a trophy shot of a war prisoner killed under his care.
Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder.
Defense lawyers say Gallagher did nothing more than provide medical care to the militant wounded in an air strike. They say Gallagher's fellow SEALS made up the allegations.
Three SEALs are expected to testify Wednesday.
