Vilseck, Germany - The final trial of a group of US servicemen who were accused of murdering four blindfolded Iraqi men and dumping their bodies in a Baghdad canal begins in Germany next week.

One of the accused received life imprisonment last month and another up to 35 years at the series of trials in Vilseck, Germany, where their unit is based. Master Sergeant John Hatley, 40, the highest-ranked accused, goes on trial from Monday, US officials said.

His will be the final court martial hearing involving the early 2007 killings, with four other accused already convicted. Those previously on trial are expected to testify against Hatley.

The soldiers had under orders to release the captured Iraqis, but instead killed them, in the belief they were terrorists. The accused sentenced to life imprisonment was named as Sergeant First Class Joseph Mayo, 27.

Two accused received sentences of seven and eight months after the court martial was told they knew that the Iraqis would be shot, but did not wield the guns. Two other soldiers were also investigated for roles in the murder, but were not charged.(dpa)