US Army soldier sentenced to life in prison

VILSECK, Germany - A U.S. Army master sergeant convicted of murder in the 2007 killings of four bound and blindfolded Iraqis has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

A jury of eight Army officers and noncommissioned officers handed Master Sgt. John Hatley the sentence on Thursday. The 40-year-old soldier will also have his rank reduced to private, forfeit all pay and receive a dishonorable discharge.

Hatley was found guilty on Wednesday of premeditated murder and conspiracy in the execution-style killings of the detainees.

He was found not guilty of premeditated murder in a separate January 2007 incident in which a wounded Iraqi insurgent was shot and killed.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)