U.S. soldier sentenced to 100 years for rape, murder

[Robor007 0]

I hope this hadn't already been posted. I searched and didn't see it. All I can say is wow... U.S. soldier sentenced to 100 years for rape, murder

FT. CAMPBELL, Kentucky (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier who pleaded guilty to raping and murdering a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her family was sentenced to 100 years in a military prison, the U.S. Army said on Thursday.

Sgt. Paul Cortez, 24, was also given a dishonorable discharge under a plea agreement he reached with prosecutors prior to a court-martial that spanned three days, an Army spokesman said.

Cortez, of Barstow, California, was not eligible for the death penalty under his plea agreement, accepted by the court on Wednesday.

Col. Stephen R. Henley, the military judge, found Cortez guilty of conspiracy to commit rape, four counts of felony murder, rape, housebreaking and violating a general order.

Under terms of his plea agreement, Cortez agreed to testify against the three others still facing prosecution in the case.

During the court-martial, a sometimes emotional Cortez recounted how he and his companions drank whiskey, played cards and plotted to attack the family at Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, in March 2006. The group poured kerosene on the girl's body and lit her on fire in an attempt to cover up the crime.

Cortez testified that Spc. James Barker, who also pleaded guilty in the case, and a since-discharged soldier, Pvt. Steven Green, chose the family to attack because there was only one man in the house and it was an "easy target."

Once at the house, Green, the suspected ringleader, took the girl's mother, father and little sister into a bedroom, Cortez said, while he and Barker took the teenager, Abeer Qassim al-Janabi, to the living room, where they took turns raping her.

He said Green, who has been charged as a civilian and awaits trial in a Kentucky jail, shot the girl's family in another room and then raped the teenager.

The deaths of the girl and her family outraged Iraqis and ratcheted up tension in the war zone.

Barker pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced to 90 years in a military prison. Green was discharged from the Army for a "personality disorder."

Two other soldiers are accused in the case, Pvt. Jesse Spielman and Pvt. Bryan Howard.

(Additional reporting by John Sommers at Ft. Campbell)

[heishe 2]

Such a sad story.

I wonder if executing these guys would win us points with the Iraqis.

[Ban Hammer 14,441]

i said he'd get the pcs tour to the usdb when it was announced he was going to trial. i'm waiting for those who were engaged in chestbeating about what happened to finally realize that the military does have strict laws.

[MrsAmera 41]

I think most Iraqis will just be happy that there is some justice in the US system. No matter what is happening with the war or how you feel I'm not sure how anyone could justify this boy and his companions actions. Imagine if it were your family ......

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think "most Iraqis" have other priorities, living in a security situation in which there is a very real possibility of face death (from any number of quarters) on a daily basis.

While justice is obviously 'good', the crime itself is exactly the sort of thing that the extremist groups live for.

[MrsAmera 41]

So what that "extremist groups live for it?" We should just dismiss these kids actions because there's a war going on there? I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous. By the US punishing these actions it can therefore defer extremists from using this act as an example of US behavior against the Iraqi people. By my comment I meant, many Iraqis feel that there has been a large sense of injustice against them since the US invasion. So perhaps from them seeing that the US does punish for bad behaviors it may restore some faith in them. We are trying to build a democracy in Iraq, so we need to set a good example for what democracy stands for. That is the line I was going for.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So what that "extremist groups live for it?" We should just dismiss these kids actions because there's a war going on there? I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous. By the US punishing these actions it can therefore defer extremists from using this act as an example of US behavior against the Iraqi people. By my comment I meant, many Iraqis feel that there has been a large sense of injustice against them since the US invasion. So perhaps from them seeing that the US does punish for bad behaviors it may restore some faith in them. We are trying to build a democracy in Iraq, so we need to set a good example for what democracy stands for. That is the line I was going for.

You're assuming that the Iraqi people have widespread access to the world media - this isn't a first world country we're talking about... Justice isn't really all that satisfactory if noone knows it happened.

The crime was horrendous- yes. The punishment justified - yes. But the fact that this even happened, that there are these kinds of people wearing the uniform - makes things more dangerous for the rest of the US and coalition forces.

As far as Democracy in Iraq goes, it seems there is less of it today than there was under Saddam. Maliki is incompetent/corrupt and many of the low-level enforcers who committed war crimes under the old regime have pretty much gotten their old jobs back (I've read some pretty hair-raising things about the new Iraqi police...)

[Fandango 1,440]

I think they should be punished by the laws of whatever the military allows...but in no way shape or form should they be executed solely to placate the Iraqis.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think they should be punished by the laws of whatever the military allows...but in no way shape or form should they be executed solely to placate the Iraqis.

I guess it goes back to that issue of the international criminal court, that the US doesn't want its people tried in a foreign court. As far as taking care of these things openly and transparently, I don't think it does much for the reputation of the US as much as create a reputation for stand-offishness.

[Ban Hammer 14,441]

I think they should be punished by the laws of whatever the military allows...but in no way shape or form should they be executed solely to placate the Iraqis.

I guess it goes back to that issue of the international criminal court, that the US doesn't want its people tried in a foreign court. As far as taking care of these things openly and transparently, I don't think it does much for the reputation of the US as much as create a reputation for stand-offishness.

an international criminal court is great if a country does not have a decent court system. i think the ucmj is quite sufficient for the us military, thank you very much.

do you really think that the individual sentenced in this case would have gotten such a lengthy sentence in your much touted international court? methinks not

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think they should be punished by the laws of whatever the military allows...but in no way shape or form should they be executed solely to placate the Iraqis.

I guess it goes back to that issue of the international criminal court, that the US doesn't want its people tried in a foreign court. As far as taking care of these things openly and transparently, I don't think it does much for the reputation of the US as much as create a reputation for stand-offishness.

an international criminal court is great if a country does not have a decent court system. i think the ucmj is quite sufficient for the us military, thank you very much.

do you really think that the individual sentenced in this case would have gotten such a lengthy sentence in your much touted international court? methinks not

I don't doubt justice was done here, my question is "was it seen to be done?"

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

erekose,

Americans should only be tried by other Americans. Projecting an 'image' is nice but secondary.

[Ban Hammer 14,441]

I think they should be punished by the laws of whatever the military allows...but in no way shape or form should they be executed solely to placate the Iraqis.

I guess it goes back to that issue of the international criminal court, that the US doesn't want its people tried in a foreign court. As far as taking care of these things openly and transparently, I don't think it does much for the reputation of the US as much as create a reputation for stand-offishness.

an international criminal court is great if a country does not have a decent court system. i think the ucmj is quite sufficient for the us military, thank you very much.

do you really think that the individual sentenced in this case would have gotten such a lengthy sentence in your much touted international court? methinks not

I don't doubt justice was done here, my question is "was it seen to be done?"

so now you want trials broadcast to iraqi tv?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think they should be punished by the laws of whatever the military allows...but in no way shape or form should they be executed solely to placate the Iraqis.

I guess it goes back to that issue of the international criminal court, that the US doesn't want its people tried in a foreign court. As far as taking care of these things openly and transparently, I don't think it does much for the reputation of the US as much as create a reputation for stand-offishness.

an international criminal court is great if a country does not have a decent court system. i think the ucmj is quite sufficient for the us military, thank you very much.

do you really think that the individual sentenced in this case would have gotten such a lengthy sentence in your much touted international court? methinks not

I don't doubt justice was done here, my question is "was it seen to be done?"

so now you want trials broadcast to iraqi tv?

Ummm... no. I'm just pointing out that your closed-door military court is hardly a transparent forum for trying a crime committed against foreign nationals. As far as justice being seen to be done, I think the memory of the crime will last a good deal longer than the knowledge of 'remote punishment', and thats even assuming the Iraqis (with their shattered infrastructure) know that the trial even took place.

As far as "hearts and minds" go, there is a propaganda issue here.

Edited February 24, 2007 by erekose

[Ban Hammer 14,441]

Ummm... no. I'm just pointing out that your closed-door military court is hardly a transparent forum for trying a crime committed against foreign nationals. As far as justice being seen to be done, I think the memory of the crime will last a good deal longer than the knowledge of 'remote punishment', if even the Iraqis at large know it took place.

and closed door is the way it should be. what are you advocating, tv coverage like the oj trial? sorry, but a military court martial isn't a 3 ring circus. someone wants to learn about the verdict, that's what radio, tv, and newspapers are for, eh?