Rigby Soldier Accused of Murder; Father Speaks Out

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Story Published: Sep 24, 2007 at 5:33 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 7, 2008 at 1:12 PM MDT

By Nate Eaton

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A Rigby soldier accused of murdering an Iraqi man will appear in a Baghdad courtroom this week.

Sgt. Evan Vela is charged with one count of premeditated murder but his family says he's been wrongly accused.

Curtis Carnahan, Vela's Father: "He has said from the very beginning that he doesn't feel like he's guilty of anything."

Sgt. Evan Vela's dad describing how his son feels about being charged with premeditated murder.

The incident stems from a few months ago when Vela was working in a sniper squad and an Iraqi man was killed.

Carnahan: "There's no question that these Iraqi's were engaged by this sniper squad. That's not the issue. The issue is why they were engaged."

According to today's Washington Post, military documents show a Pentagon group urged the snipers to target Iraqi's by scattering bait...things like plastic explosives, ammunition, or detonation cords.

Carnahan: "If somebody picked up the so-called bait and acted like they were going to take it with them, that would be considered a hostile act and the sniper squad was at that time ordered to engage."

Carnahan says his son and the two others being charged were following orders and they are the victims of a military program gone wrong.

Carnahan: "As far as I'm concerned, not only my son but Staff Sgt. Hensley and Spec. Sandoval should all have the charges dropped against them because they're just soldiers doing what they are supposed to be doing to defend our country in what they've been trained to do."

Carnahan says he's not getting any help from the government so he's hired one of the top military attorneys in the county to defend his son.

The cost for the legal services are very expensive so a defense fund has been set up.

For more information on the defense fund, Click Here

To see the Washington Post article, Click Here

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