Soldier to testify against leader

A Schofield Barracks soldier, already convicted as an accessory in the murder of an unarmed Iraqi citizen in June, is expected to take the stand this week in the court-martial of his platoon sergeant, who is charged with engineering the crime.

The court-martial of Sgt. 1st Class Trey Corrales, 35, was slated to begin this morning in a Wheeler Army Airfield courthouse. Corrales, of San Antonio, is charged with the murder of a suspected Iraqi insurgent, ordering Spc. Christopher Shore to shoot the wounded Iraqi and planting an AK-47 rifle next to the body. If convicted, Corrales could get the maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

In February, Shore was convicted of aggravated assault, but was allowed to remain in the Army. He is now serving a 120-day sentence in the Ford Island brig.

Corrales, a 14-year decorated veteran, has asked that his case be heard by a military jury of at least five soldiers.

Shore, 26, is expected to take the witness stand as part of the government's case following jury selection.

During investigative hearings last year and at his court-martial two months ago, Shore testified that he was the sole witness to the shooting that occurred during an early-morning raid on June 23 on the village of Al Shaheed near Kirkuk.

He said Corrales ordered him to "finish" the Iraqi, whom Corrales allegedly had shot. Shore said he purposely aimed at the ground near the detainee's head. The Iraq died of gunshot wounds in each of his arms, in his back and in his face.

Shore and other members of his scout platoon testified that Corrales, who wanted revenge for the death of a close friend, ordered his troops before the raid to kill all military-age men in the village.

The platoon was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The 25th Infantry Division brigade returned home in October, but will redeploy to Iraq this fall.