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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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June 29th,
2007 - Court-Martial Delayed for 4th Soldier Accused in Rape-Slaying |
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Court-Martial Delayed for
4th Soldier Accused in Rape-Slaying By Ryan Lenz Associated Press June 29, 2007 Fort Campbell, Ky. - A
military judge on Friday said he would allow evidence that the fourth of five
soldiers accused in the rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl had
previously said he wanted to hurt Iraqis. Witnesses testified to
having heard Spc. Jesse Spielman, 22, of Chambersburg, Pa., saying he wanted
Iraqis dead. "I don't care if they
live or die. They will either support insurgents or breed insurgents. I want
them dead," Pfc. Thomas Doss recalled Spielman saying of three detainees
their unit had stopped during a patrol. The hearing was the final
opportunity for attorneys to hash out details and evidence before Spielman's
court-martial. Among the issues was whether
the court would allow into evidence inflammatory statements Spielman made
about Iraqis and details of alleged detainee abuse. Prosecutors were asking to
introduce evidence that Spielman was present when three detainees were
allegedly beaten in March. Sgt. Anthony Yribe, who testified he saw the
detainees bleeding, said Spielman's unit had an understanding about who was
able to "lay it on" Iraqis in their custody. Lt. Col. Stephen Henley, the
military judge, left open the possibility the testimony would not be allowed
during the court-martial if the evidence presented then does not support it. Henley also said Spielman's
court-martial will begin July 30, one week later than originally planned,
because of scheduling conflicts for defense witnesses. Prosecutors do not allege
that Spielman took direct part in the rape of Abeer Qassim al-Janabi or the
murder of her and three others in her family. Instead they contend he was
aware of a plan to attack the family and came along with the others near a
checkpoint south of Baghdad on March 12, 2006. The comments introduced as
evidence show motive for Spielman to have been involved in the rape,
prosecutors said. "Really this case boils
down to whether he shared in the criminal purpose and design" of the
attack, said Maj. William Fischbach, the military prosecutor. But another witness, Lt.
Col. Karen Marrs, a psychiatric nurse who treated many in Spielman's unit for
combat stress, refuted prosecutors' claims that wishing violence - called
homicidal ideations - signaled a plan to hurt or kill Iraqis. "Homicidal ideation
does not imply either intent or plan" to carry out an attack, Marrs
said. Spielman faces up to life in
prison without parole if convicted on rape and murder charges. Three other soldiers have
been convicted in the attack during the 101st's yearlong deployment. Former private Stephen Green
of Midland, Texas, faces charges of rape and murder. He will be tried in
federal court because he had been discharged from the Army before allegations
arose that U.S. soldiers were involved in the attack. A trial date for Green has
not been set, and prosecutors are awaiting word from the U.S. attorney
general on whether to seek the death penalty. The killings in Mahmoudiya,
a village about 20 miles south of Baghdad, were among the worst in a series
of alleged attacks on civilians and other abuses by military personnel in
Iraq. Investigators said the
soldiers killed three in the family before raping the girl and setting fire
to her body to destroy evidence. External link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/4933629.html |