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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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March 21st,
2007 - Soldier Gets 27 Months in Iraq Gang-Rape Case |
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Soldier Gets 27 Months in
Iraq Gang-Rape Case Reuters March 21, 2007; 11:45 PM Chicago - A U.S. soldier who
pleaded guilty in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and
the killing of her family was sentenced to 27 months in prison, officials at
Ft. Campbell in Kentucky said on Wednesday. Pvt. Bryan Howard, 20, also
drew a dishonorable discharge after entering a plea agreement at his
court-martial, a statement from the post said. He pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to obstruct justice and being an accessory after the fact. Murder
and rape charges against Howard were dismissed by the government based on his
limited role in the crimes, the announcement said. At a hearing in Iraq last year,
testimony indicated Howard was at a nearby location but did not participate
in the crime itself. Howard waived his request to
have his case heard by a military panel and was tried by Col. Stephen Henley,
who imposed the sentence. Last month, Sgt. Paul
Cortez, 24, was sentenced to 100 years in prison under a plea agreement he
reached with prosecutors in the same case, although he will be eligible for
parole in 10 years. The incident happened after
a group of soldiers drank whiskey, played cards and plotted to attack a
family at Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, in March 2006. Some of those involved
poured kerosene on the girl's body and lit her on fire in an attempt to cover
up the crime. Specialist James Barker, who
earlier pleaded guilty in the case, was sentenced to 90 years in a military
prison, also with the possibility of an earlier parole. A third man involved,
former Pvt. Steven Green, has been discharged, is being held at a jail in
Kentucky and faces trial in civil court. A fourth soldier charged in
the case, Pvt. Jesse Spielman, still faces court-martial. External link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/21/AR2007032102807.html |