Cab driver Anis Sardar jailed for Iraq bomb murder

From the BBC

A London cab driver has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 38 years for the murder of a US soldier in a roadside bombing in Iraq in 2007. Anis Sardar, 38, from Wembley, built bombs as part of a conspiracy to kill Americans fighting in the country.

Sardar showed no emotion as Judge Mr Justice Globe told him he must be detained for “an extremely long time”.

…handing down his sentence at Woolwich Crown Court, the judge rejected Sardar’s defence that he had been involved just once in bomb-making to protect the Sunni community. He said: “I am satisfied that at the material time of the offences you had a mindset that made Americans every bit the enemy as Shia militias. Both were in your contemplation at all times.”

Mr Justice Globe described the bombs built by Sardar and his co-conspirators as “professionally made” and “in effect landmines”.

The judge told Sardar that Sgt Johnson, a family man with two young children, had been described by his commanding officer, Major Eric Adams, as showing “deep compassion” in leading his platoon.

US Army Staff Sergeant Mark Aggers, (left – with Globe J) who served as a gunner on the Stryker, gave evidence. He was left with serious shrapnel wounds, while three further servicemen suffered concussion. 

Prosecutor Max Hill QC read a short message from Sgt Johnson’s widow Claudia in which she said: “Thank you so much, it’s a big relief to know that justice has been served. However, it does not change much for us. Randy will be greatly missed.”