U.S. medic gets life in Iraq killings

VILSECK, GERMANY — A U.S. Army medic convicted of murder for his role in the execution-style slayings of four bound and blindfolded Iraqi detainees has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

A military court handed down the sentence Friday night after nearly five hours of testimony. Sgt. Michael Leahy, 28, will also have his rank reduced to private, his pay forfeited and be dishonorably discharged.

Leahy was found guilty of charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder by a nine-member jury, which had heard testimony about the killings at the court-martial at the Army's Rose Barracks Courthouse since Wednesday.