US medic to serve just one year in death of Iraqi

CAMP PENDLETON, Oct 7 (Reuters) A US medic who helped kidnap a random Iraqi grandfather later killed execution-style by an American squad was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but he will end up serving only a year under a plea deal.

Military Judge Col Steven Folsom issued the sentence after Petty Officer Melson Bacos, 21, said his patrol leader's anger at the release of a suspected ''terrorist'' from Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison prompted the murder of the man's neighbor.

Bacos was also dishonorably discharged.

Bacos agreed to a plea deal earlier yesterday in which he agreed to testify in exchange for a lesser sentence. If the judge's sentence exceeds the sentence agreed upon in the plea agreement, he will serve the lesser term.

However, under the plea agreement, he will end up serving no more than 1 year in confinement.

REUTERS DKS RAI0535