Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, Donald Ball, Nick Slatten and Dustin Heard in 2008. The charges were later dropped against Ball.

A federal judge sentenced four former Blackwater security guards to lengthy prison terms on Monday in the 2007 massacre of 14 unarmed Iraqis, closing a chapter of the U.S. war in Iraq that tested relations between the two countries.

Nicholas Slatten was sentenced to life in prison for his murder conviction in the killings at a Baghdad traffic circle.

U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth sentenced three other former Blackwater guards, convicted of manslaughter in the killings, to 30 years each.

The four guards opened fire with machine guns and grenade launchers on the unarmed Iraqi civilians, including women and children, at Nisur Square on Sept. 16, 2007. A heavily armed, four-truck Blackwater Worldwide convoy had been trying to clear a path for U.S. diplomats.

In addition to the killings, at least 17 Iraqis were injured.

Slatten was convicted in October, along with ex-guards Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard.

North Carolina-based Blackwater was sold and renamed several times. It is now called Academi, based in northern Virginia.

[wpResize]

Related articles across the web

• Former Blackwater guards sentenced to prison in 2007 Baghdad killings
• Blackwater security contractors sentenced for massacre of 17 Iraqi civilians
• Killer mercenaries get their just rewards
• Ex-Blackwater contractors sentenced in Nusoor Square shooting in Iraq which Illegally unleashed "powerful sniper fire, machine guns and grenade launchers on innocent men, women and children"
• Military contractors face sentencing for 2007 Iraq killings
• Ex-Blackwater guards sentenced for 2007 Baghdad killings
• Blackwater guards jailed over Iraqi massacre
• Ex-Blackwater Guards Sentenced To Prison For Baghdad Massacre
• Former Blackwater mercs sentenced
• Blackwater guards who shot Iraqi civilians all given lengthy federal sentences