BAGHDAD, (Reuters) – Three of five U.S. security contractors arrested in Baghdad as part of an investigation into the killing of a fellow American contractor have been freed, Iraq’s government spokesman said on Thursday.
One of the released men was identified by his family as Don Feeney Jr. late on Wednesday. Feeny, Don “Buddy” Feeney, Mark Bridges, Jason Jones and Micah Milligan worked for Corporate Training Unlimited and were arrested on June 5. “They are five, three have been released due to a lack of evidence, two are still being detained on drug issues,” Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said. He could not immediately identify the two other freed men.
The group was arrested in a pre-dawn raid and questioned over the death of James Kitterman, who was found bound, blindfolded and stabbed to death last month in the capital’s heavily fortified Green Zone.
If any are charged and brought before an Iraqi court, they would become the first Americans to face local justice since a bilateral security pact came into force in January that made U.S. contractors subject to Iraqi law.