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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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December 13th,
2007 - Defense Asks for More Time in Ex-Soldier’s Iraq Rape-Slaying Case |
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Defense Asks
for More Time in Ex-Soldier’s Iraq Rape-Slaying Case By Ryan Lenz Associated Press December 13, 2007 Louisville, Ky. - Defense
attorneys for a former soldier accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and
killing her and her family asked Thursday for more time to prepare an
adequate defense. Attorneys for Stephen D.
Green of Midland, Texas, argued during a hearing, and in a motion filed
Thursday, for more time to locate and interview witnesses, to do background
investigations and to analyze information. Attorneys asked for a trial
date no earlier than April 2009 "to insure that both the United States
and the defense can be adequately prepared" for the trial, according to
the motion. Federal prosecutors have
asked for an Aug. 4, 2008 trial date for Green, a former 101st Airborne
Division private charged with rape and murder in the March 2006 attack. Green attended the hearing
Thursday wearing a blue shirt, red sweater vest and loose khaki pants. He was
shackled at the ankles but his hands were free, and he laughed with attorneys
before the hearing began. Green's attorney, Patrick Bouldin,
said attorneys should be allowed ample time to prepare for trial, due to the
unique nature of the investigation focusing on a crime at war. "Death is different, we
all know that it is, but that makes Mr. Green's different than his
co-accused," Bouldin said. U.S. District Judge Thomas
Russell said he would decide next week on a trial date. Green has pleaded not guilty
to the charges and has been held in Kentucky without bond. The defense motion cites
insanity as a possible defense, and said psychiatric experts "have
requested considerable additional information in order to render their
professional opinions." The motion said Green had a
family history of mental illness and said he had "survived chronic and
severe childhood maltreatment," but did not elaborate. Green, 22, is accused of
being a central figure in slaying the family in Mahmoudiya, a village about
20 miles south of Baghdad. He is the last of five 101st Airborne Division
soldiers to face trial. Green was charged in federal
court because he was discharged from the Army for anti-social personality
disorder before being accused of the crimes. He served 11 months with the
101st, which is based at Fort Campbell on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Defense attorneys also
argued that having the trial in federal court, where prosecutors have said
they intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted, makes the case
"unusual and complicated" for crimes at war. In the 1 1/2 years since the
allegations surfaced, four soldiers have stood trial in military
courts-martial. Two made plea agreements with military prosecutors for
sentences ranging from 90 to 100 years. A third soldier was sentenced to five
years in prison but will not serve more than 27 months. A fourth soldier, who
challenged the charges, was sentenced to 110 years. © 2007 The Associated Press External link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5377010.html |