Witness in Navy Seal murder trial claims he killed teenage prisoner in Iraq, not Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher
- Corey Scott told the military court that while he had seen Gallagher stab the wounded ISIS fighter in the neck in May 2017, he had killed the boy afterwards
A witness in the court martial trial of an elite US Navy Seal charged with killing a captive teenage militant while deployed in Iraq testified on Thursday that it was he – not the defendant – who put an end to the boy’s life.
Corey Scott, a first class petty officer, told the military court in San Diego that while he had seen Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher stab the wounded Islamic State group fighter in the neck in May 2017, he had killed the boy afterwards.
He testified that he covered the victim’s breathing tube with his thumb and then watched him die.
Scott said he did so to spare the boy – who prosecutors say was about 15 years old – from suffering or being tortured by Iraqis.
His claim throws a wrench in the prosecution’s murder and attempted murder case against Gallagher, who was supposed to be providing medical treatment for the prisoner.