Five guards facing 14 counts of manslaughter , other charges . Charges stem from shooting in Baghdad square that left 17 Iraqis dead . Comment: The Baghdad incident , which occurred September 16 , 2007 , exacerbated the feelings of many Iraqis that private American security contractors have operated since 2003 with little regard for Iraqi law or life . Case is the first prosecution of non-Defense Department contractors .
Five guards facing 14 counts of manslaughter , other charges . Charges stem from shooting in Baghdad square that left 17 Iraqis dead . Comment: Case is the first prosecution of non-Defense Department contractors .