Witness drops bombshell confession at trial for Navy SEAL charged with murder

A witness testifying Thursday at the murder trial of Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher admitted to the killing of a teenage Iraqi militant for which Gallagher was on trial.

The Associated Press reported that Special Operator 1st Class Corey Scott claimed credit for the killing after being granted immunity by a judge in exchange for testimony for the prosecution. Prosecutors reportedly accused Scott of lying in order to protect Gallagher.

“So you can stand up there and you can lie about how you killed the ISIS prisoner so Chief Gallagher does not have to go to jail,” prosecutor Lt. Brian John asked Scott during the trial, according to the AP. “You don’t want Chief Gallagher to go to jail, do you?”

“He’s got a wife and family,” Scott reportedly responded. “I don’t think he should be spending his life in prison.”

Scott testified Thursday that he asphyxiated the young Iraqi militant as an act of mercy after Gallagher, who was treating the militant for injuries sustained in an airstrike, became enraged, stabbing the young man below the collarbone and then walking away without finishing treatment.

Gallagher was also accused by a former Navy SEAL during the trial of shooting at civilians out of malice, and referring to his captive as “just an ISIS dirtbag.”

Defense attorneys have reportedly argued that the soldiers have fabricated the allegations against Gallagher to prevent him from being promoted, due to his reputation as a demanding platoon leader.

Gallagher's case is one of several that President Trump is reportedly considering for a pardon, according to media reports. The president was criticized in March after he announced that Gallagher, who has since been released pending his trial's outcome, would be moved to "less restrictive confinement" due to his service in the Navy.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/449595-witness-drops-bombshell-confession-at-trial-for-navy-seal-charged-with-murder