Galley’s feeling: not “killing humans”

Press, Issue 32535, 19 February 1971, Page 9

Galley’s feeling: not “killing humans”

f.V.Z. Press Association—Copyright) FORT BENNING (Georgia), February 18. The defence conceded for the first time yesterday that Lieutenant William Caffey shot Vietnamese civilians at My Lai, but said he did not feel he was “killing humans.”

The admission, reports United Press International, came in a four-page statement summarising what Cat ley will say when he gives evidence in his own defence, possibly within the next few days.

Defence lawyers supplied copies of the statement to two psychiatrists who appeared on Calley’s behalf. Another copy was given to the court. The statement said in part:

“Lieutenant Calley states that he did not feel as if he was killing humans but rather that they were the enemy with whom he could not speak or ‘ reason. “Lieutenant Calley ordered Paul Meadlo, a soldier in his platoon, to shoot and took part himself in shooting some detained ■ Vietnamese on two occasions . . . Lieutenant Calley will testify that he believed he was following orders to kill every living thing in the village.” After reading the statement the psychiatrists were asked a set of hypothetical questions aimed at strengthening

the defence case. In their answers, they agreed that Calley suffered a “stress reaction” at My Lai and was unable to - analyse the legality of orders to kill civilians. Dr David Crane, of Indianapolis, testified that he would label Calley’s condition during the sweep at My Lai as “stress reaction,” and said he was functioning under limi ted mental capacity in which he could not “appreciate the complexity of any order.”