Trial starting in Va. for 2 former Blackwater contractors accused of killing Afghan nationals

2 go on trial in Virginia for Afghan killings

NORFOLK, Va. — Jury selection is scheduled to begin in Virginia in the trial of two former defense contractors charged with the deaths of two Afghan nationals.

The trial of Justin H. Cannon of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Christopher Drotleff of Virginia Beach begins Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Norfolk. It’s expected to last two to three weeks.

The former contractors for Blackwater Worldwide are accused in the shooting deaths of two Afghan nationals in Kabul in May 2009. Drotleff and Cannon have said they opened fire on a vehicle when it sped toward them.

The defendants were in the country to train the Afghan National Army.

Drotleff and Cannon face up to life in prison if convicted.

North Carolina-based Blackwater is now known as Xe (zee) Services,