Army sergeant found guilty in staged murders of three Afghan civilians

Calvin Gibbs is convicted as the ringleader of a rogue 'kill team,' as well as for keeping body parts as trophies and organizing the gang beating of a fellow soldier over the 5th Stryker Brigade's use of hashish. - Reporting from Seattle— An Army sergeant so sharp he looked like a recruiting poster — who had skulls tattooed on his leg said to represent the people he'd killed in Iraq — was convicted of three counts of premeditated murder Thursday in the most gruesome war crimes case to emerge from the war in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs, 26, was also found guilty of keeping decomposing fingers, leg bones and a tooth as trophies from corpses, and organizing the gang beating of a fellow soldier he feared would report the rampant hashish use in what Army officials say was an "out of control" platoon. The five-member military jury deliberated about four hours before convicting Gibbs, who led a team from what was then the 5th Stryker Brigade. Gibbs, from Billings, Mont., was sentenced to life in prison, but will be eligible for parole after 10 years.

The News Tribune: Jury finds Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs guilty on all “kill team” charges
Jerry White: Photos released of atrocities by US “kill team” in Afghanistan
NYT: Young Soldier Both Revered and Reviled [Photo]

AWIP:
GI admits sport killing in Afghanistan
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