West Chicago grandma distraught over medic's conviction

The grandmother of the U.S. Army medic convicted of murder Friday for his part in the death of four Iraqi prisoners remains distraught about the verdict and questioned Saturday how the military could punish one of its own for doing what she said he was trained to do.

"He wanted to be a physician's assistant when he came back," said Hazel Leahy of West Chicago. " I don't call that somebody capable of murdering - unless he was pushed into this.

"You're taught to fight when you're in the Army," she added, "Then when you do it ... you're guilty of murder."

Michael P. Leahy Jr., 28, was sentenced to life in prison Friday night with the possibility of parole by a military jury in Germany. Leahy, a graduate of Downers Grove South High School, also was dishonorably discharged.

His conviction, for murder and conspiracy to commit murder, stems from the 2007 execution-style killings of four Iraqi prisoners.

According to testimony, at least four Iraqis were taken into custody in spring 2007 after a shootout with a night patrol that included five other accused soldiers.

The Iraqis were taken to the U.S. unit's operating base in Baghdad for questioning and processing, but there was not enough evidence to hold them for attacking the unit.

Patrol members later took the Iraqis to a remote area and shot them in retribution for the attacks, according to testimony.

Leahy confessed to military investigators that he shot one of the prisoners.

His grandmother believes that the incident was brought about by exhaustion, stress and the strain of watching soldiers in his unit die.

"You don't think straight," Hazel Leahy said. "You do what you think is right."

During the court martial, Col. Charles Hoge, a doctor and director of psychology and neuroscience at the Army's Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, testified that Leahy's reasoning was affected by the nonstop danger of living in a war zone and getting little sleep for months.

Prosecutors, however, contend that Leahy knew what he was doing.

Hazel Leahy said her grandson had been awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and other honors for his service.

"This is the thanks he gets," she said.

"In World War II there was no question how you killed the enemy," she added. "You did what you had to do."

Hazel Leahy is hoping the outcome of the military trial can be changed through appeal.

"He was a wonderful, wonderful young man," she said. "I was very proud of him and I still am."

Associated Press contributed to this report.