8 Jan 2012

Blackwater suit now settled

12:32 pm on 8 January 2012

The families of four Americans killed in Iraq in 2004 have settled a lawsuit with the US security company that hired them, Blackwater, now known as Academi.

The four men were shot, beaten and burned to death in the city of Fallujah. Two of the bodies were put on display.

Wesley Batalona, Scott Helvenston, Michael Teague and Jerry Zovko were travelling in two Mitsubishi SUVs, escorting a convoy of lorries to a US military base when they were ambushed and killed.

Blackwater was accused of exposing them to high risk without proper protection.

The BBC reports a confidential settlement announced on Friday ended efforts by the families to secure a public investigation into the killings.

Academi declined to comment, citing terms of the confidential settlement.