Afghan Massacre's 17th Victim: Fetus

US had bumped toll from 16 dead
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 26, 2012 7:45 AM CDT
Afghan Massacre's 17th Victim: Fetus
In this Sunday, March 11, 2012 file photo, Afghan security forces stand guard outside a home where witnesses say Afghans were killed by a US soldier in Panjwai, Kandahar province.   (AP Photo/Allauddin Khan, File)

The US military raised the death toll in the March 11 massacre of Afghan villagers from 16 to 17 last week; now Afghan police explain why. The 17th victim was an unborn baby, an officer tells the New York Times: "The Americans are right and one of the females was pregnant, which is why they are saying 17." But other Afghan officials call the new number a "mistake." "There is no 17th person dead. According to our records, it is 16," says one.

Sixteen is the number of dead the US has reportedly paid compensation for, at $50,000 per victim. US officials have also paid out $11,000 for each of six people wounded in the attacks, bringing the total to $866,000. An unborn baby's death could be deemed murder according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, even if the killer didn't know a victim was pregnant and even if he didn't mean to kill the fetus; the Times notes that that section of the code is rarely used. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)

We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy.
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X