A US army soldier is facing martial court in Germany for his alleged involvement in the murder of four Iraqi prisoners in 2007.

Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr., 26, of Lockport, Illinois, stands trial on Tuesday for killing four Iraqi prisoners who were bound, blindfolded, shot in the head and dumped in a Baghdad canal.

Leahey is one of seven soldiers alleged to have been involved in the murders, which occurred sometime between March 10 and April 16, 2007.

Should Leahey be found guilty, he will face a life imprisonment sentence and a dishonorable dismissal from the US army.

All the soldiers involved in the killings were with the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq, which is now part of the Germany-based 172nd Infantry Brigade.

Two other US soldiers - Spc. Steven Ribordy, 25, of Salina, Kansas, and Spc. Belmor Ramos, 23, of Clearfield, Utah - pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and were put behind bars. Both men agreed to testify against Leahy and three others. Leahy is also facing murder charges for a separate event in January 2007.