{"id":22536,"date":"2019-08-29T00:08:29","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T00:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/08\/29\/ex-blackwater-contractor-sentenced-in-iraq-shooting-seeks-new-trial\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:17:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:17:02","slug":"ex-blackwater-contractor-sentenced-in-iraq-shooting-seeks-new-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/2019\/08\/29\/ex-blackwater-contractor-sentenced-in-iraq-shooting-seeks-new-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Blackwater contractor sentenced in Iraq shooting seeks new trial"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 A former State Department contractor sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 2007 shooting deaths of unarmed Iraqi civilians is asking for a new trial because of what he says is newly discovered evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawyers for former Blackwater employee Nicholas Slatten said they received a State Department report two days before the Aug. 14 sentencing that they say casts doubt on prosecutors’ argument that Slatten is prone to unprovoked violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The document concerns a rescue mission of a downed aircraft that took place one week before the shooting in the case. Prosecutors invoked the earlier episode at Slatten’s trial, saying “this man either takes unprovoked shots where no threat is present, or he urges other people to do that.”<\/p>\n\n\n\t