Two U.S. contractors charged with killing Afghans

By Ravi Matah

WASHINGTON. – Two Blackwater mercenaries have been charged with shooting two Afghans to death and injuring a third.

Justin Cannon, 27, of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Christopher Drotleff, 29, of Virginia Beach, Va., have been charged with crimes including second-degree murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses while working as contractors for the U.S. defence department.

 
The federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned an indictment   alleging that Cannon and Drotleff shot and killed two Afghanistan nationals and wounded a third. on May 5, 2009, in Kabul. 
 
The thirteen count indictment alleges that at the time of the shootings, Cannon and Drotleff were Department of Defense contractors employed by Paravant LLC, which is a subsidiary of Xe (formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide).
 
According to the indictment, as contractors, Cannon and Drotleff provided training to the Afghan National Army for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the use and maintenance of weapons and weapons systems.
 
Cannon was arrested  in Corpus Christi by FBI agents. Drotleff was also arrested today by FBI agents in Virginia Beach. Cannon and Drotleff were each charged with two counts of second-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, six counts of using and discharging a firearm during a violent crime, and four counts of murder resulting from the use of a firearm during a violent crime.
 
If convicted, the maximum penalty faced by Cannon and Drotleff is life in prison or the death penalty.

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