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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings & Torture |
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May 12th,
2009 - Witness: Ex-Soldier had Impulse Control Issues 1st news article
from the Associated Press 2nd news article
from the Associated Press |
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Witness:
Ex-Soldier had Impulse Control Issues From the Associated Press May 12, 2009 Paducah, Ky. - A
neuropsychologist has testified that an ex-soldier facing a possible death sentence
for rape and murder in Iraq has brain damage in the areas that control
impulses. Ruben Gur, director of
neuropsychology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, said
Tuesday that the condition leaves former Pfc. Steven Dale Green vulnerable to
inappropriate behavior in chaotic situations. Gur told jurors that Green
likely suffered closed head injuries that caused the damage. A jury is hearing testimony
before deciding whether to sentence the former 101st Airborne Division
soldier to death or life in prison. The nine-woman, three-man
panel convicted Green last week of multiple counts of rape and murder related
to an attack on 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi and the slaying of her
family on March 2, 2006 south of Baghdad, Iraq. © 2009 The Associated Press External link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6420345.html Witness:
Ex-soldier had impulse control issues By Brett
Barrouquere Associated
Press May 12, 2009 Paducah, Ky. - An ex-soldier who could be sentenced to
death for raping and killing a teenage girl in Iraq has brain damage that can
make it difficult to control impulses and process information in chaotic
situations, a neurological expert testified Tuesday. Ruben Gur, director of neuropsychology at the University
of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, told jurors Tuesday that former Pfc.
Steven Dale Green would be prone to acting inappropriately in chaotic
situations because of the brain damage. Gur, testifying for the defense, said
the brain damage likely was caused by several head injuries. Gur said people with brain damage like Green's would
have "major difficulties" processing information and controlling
impulses. "They won't have the brakes and they'll be
easily aroused into action," said Gur, who is not a medical doctor. Green would likely adapt well to structured
environments, such as the military or prison, Gur said. A jury is hearing testimony in the penalty phase of
Green's trial before deciding whether to sentence him to death or to life in
prison. Jurors didn't hear an explanation Tuesday for how or when Green
suffered head injuries. The nine-woman, three-man panel convicted Green last
week of multiple counts of rape and murder related to the March 2006 attack
on 14-year-old Abetter Passim al-Janabi and the slaying of her father, mother
and sister at their home in Mahmoudiya, Iraq, about 20 miles south of
Baghdad. Testimony is expected to last several days before
the jury begins deciding the sentence. Under questioning from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim
Lesousky, Gur told jurors he didn't examine Green personally. Instead, Gur
said, he reviewed an MRI done of Green at the University of Louisville. Prosecutors on Monday told jurors that Green's crime
was so heinous it warranted a death sentence. Defense attorneys said that
Green didn't act alone and that none of the other soldiers who participated
in the attack faced a death sentence. Those soldiers received prison sentences of up to 90
years in military court, but could be paroled in seven years. Green, 24, of Midland, Texas, is being tried in
civilian court because charges were brought in the case after he was
discharged from the Army. Green had been stationed in Iraq with the Fort
Campbell, Ky.-based 101st Airborne Division. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. External link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iYeOUInDxFuT4T8CsYG9-_KfQ9pgD984SR080 Iraqi family
survivors: We wish U.S. soldiers had also killed us By Dave Alsup Cable Network News May 12, 2009 Paducah, Kentucky -
Surviving members of an Iraqi family said they are haunted by a murder
rampage committed by a gang of U.S. soldiers. They testified Monday in the
sentencing phase of a trial, in which one of the soldiers has been convicted
and might face the death penalty. Testimony is to continue
Tuesday. On Monday, family members
said their lives have been ruined and it would be better if the soldiers had
also killed them. Defendant Steven Green did
not make eye contact as the family members testified. Green has been identified as
the ringleader in the murder rampage. He was convicted last week in U.S.
District Court in Kentucky of murder, rape, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. He and other soldiers barged
into the home of an Iraqi family in 2006, raped a 14-year-old girl, killed
her and her family, and set the home afire, authorities said. Ameena Al-Janabi testified
through a translator Monday that her two grandsons were the first to arrive
on the fiery scene and see that their family members had been killed. The two boys used to be
great students, but have since refused to attend school, the woman said. They "are lost, as if
they are not living in this life," Janabi said. Abid Abu Farras, a cousin,
also spoke about the effect of the murders on the surviving brothers. Their "futures are
destroyed," Farras said. "If they had died with their family, they
would have been better off." The prosecution rested after
four witnesses. The defense called other
soldiers to the stand to illustrate the chaos that Green's platoon faced
while deployed in the Mahmoudiya area of Iraq, south of Baghdad. Four other former soldiers
are in prison for their roles in the crimes and the cover-up that followed. Private First Class James
Barker, Sgt. Paul Cortez, Private First Class Jesse Spielman and Private
First Class Bryan Howard received sentences ranging from 27 months to 110
years - with the possibility of parole in 10 years in the most severe cases. They were convicted and
sentenced in a military court. Green might become the first
former U.S. soldier to face the death penalty for war crimes before a
civilian court. The reason for the
distinction: Green was discharged from the military before his crimes came to
light. When the killings became
public in 2006, the Iraqi public was enraged and some Iraqi officials
demanded that American soldiers accused of crimes against civilians face
prosecution in Iraqi courts. U.S. military and civilian
officials condemned the attack and vowed to bring those responsible to
justice. External link: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/12/kentucky.iraq.murder/ By Evan Bright Steven Green Trial Blog May 12, 2009 Both lot and little happened
today. When court reconvened shortly after 9 AM, Dr. Ruben Gur was called to
the stand. Obviously a man of intelligence, Gur spoke of his studies on brain
function and behavior, and of his studies at the Hebrew University in Israel,
Michigan State, Stanford, and his current residency at the University of
Pennsylvania; and you had better believe he's got the collegiate proffesor's
accent to back it up. Dr. Gur spent the first hour
of his testimony working with defense attorney Pat Bouldin in giving the
court audience a High school Biology 101 lesson on the brain and it's various
parts and functions. He took us on a tour of the brain. Not word for word:
"Green has frontal lobe damage....particularly on ze left side. [According
to Gur] This means Green has difficulty making decisions, and does not work
well under disorganization nor without being told what to do. He is or would
be happy to follow a leader because he doesn't want to be pressured. He works
well in a structured environment." When asked if he thought
Green would do well in the military, judging by Green's MRI, Dr. Gur agreed.
"What about in prison?" Bouldin questioned. "With the
structure … yes, without structure you can expect trouble." Again, more
defense strategy in trying to save their client's life. On cross, Jim
Lesousky questioned Gur on how Green could be "more prone to act on his
impulses" when the four soldiers "sat around playing cards and
planning the rape." For redirect, Bouldin brought out Green's seeking
leadership as opposed to taking leadership as a response. The defense's next witness
was Dr. Greg Simolke, seen pictured here. Simolke is Steven Green's
uncle, he is an obstetrician in Marion, North Carolina. He talked about the
family. His sister, Roxanne, is Steven's mother (expect to hear from her
soon). He told the court of Steven's older brother Doug, and his younger
brother Danny. When describing Roxanna, Steven's mom, he paused for a minute
before answering that she is "a 'live in the moment' type of person,'...
someone acts on impulse and doesn't give a lot of thought [to the
consequences]." He said that he had always known her personality made it
hard to raise kids, "I have a polar opposite personality to hers and
even I'm having trouble raising kids." He talked about how Roxanna
always worked a lot at night and wasn't home much for her kids. The next
subject was Steven himself. You could see the emotion
growing in Simolke's face and demeanor. He spoke of Steven, Doug, and Danny
not having many rules. When asked about Doug's "being tough" on
Steve, he testified that "Doug … was hard on Steve … (pause) … it felt
like that...wore on Steve. Doug was sort of …" At this point, Dr.
Simolke broke down crying and had to pause for a few minutes to regain his
composure. He was given some water and he continued. "Doug was sort
of...in charge, but he was too young to manage Steve." Bouldin asked
what his(Simolke's) thoughts were on Green and he "generally … I felt
sorry for Steve. I felt that he wasn't completely normal … nothing drastic or
super unusual … he was generally left out [throughout] his life. (pauses … more
tears) Nothing ever worked out for him, he had a black cloud hanging over him
… (pause) … I just didn't think life was workin' out for him." During
all of this, Green was noticed staring straight ahead. Simolke testified that he
wouldn't have called Steven Green a leader. "No … I don't want to be
offensive...he wasn't a leader...anyone who knows Steve wouldn't say he was.
He's a follower." Simolke testified about Green living with him for a
few months, maintaining a C-average, before realizing that he was so far
behind in school that wouldn't be able to graduate high school that year with
the rest of his classmates; after which dropping out and moving back to his
hometown of Midland, TX where he got his GED. Simolke spoke of his
memories of Steve, one of beginning a tandem bike riding relationship after
Steven was denied from the football team for bad grades. He told the jury
that he "was prouder at Steven's military basic training graduation than
any other time." He too testified that he thought Steve "could make
a life for himself in prison, he's a no needs guy, he doesn't ask for much
and he adapts to his circumstances well." During this, the paralegal at
the defense team was wiping her eyes. Lieutenant Colonel Karen
Marrs made her second appearance next. She was called to testify over things
that the defense was not allowed to cover in the guilty phase of the trial.
She testified that she told Colonel Kunk that 1st Platoon's mental health
status was "red," or "combat incapable." She also
admitted that Kunk was aware of the hostility and vengeance that was
prominent in the 1st Platoon. Kunk recommended the platoon get some rest,
according to Marrs. On cross, Lesousky asked Marrs if it was 1st Platoon or
Bravo Company that was "combat incapable," to which she replied that
Bravo Company was status red, but "1st Platoon had it the worst." Dr. Pablo Stewart was called
to the stand last. He is a professor at UCSF with a specialty in PTSD,
psychiatry, and alcohol/substance abuse. He mainly testified that while Col.
Marrs had followed her psychiatric guidelines "to the nail," she
did not give a correct diagnosis of then Pfc. Green. He also testified that
the Army's psychiatric standards at that time did not meet the "standard
of care" for soldiers like those in 1st Platoon. Expect more family to
testify in the upcoming days. Notes: - John Scruton, who was
Green's Army comrade that testified yesterday, was present in the courtroom
today. An exchange of mouthed-words was seen, with a few head nods and grins
and laughs to boot. External link: http://trialcoverage.blogspot.com/2009/05/combat-incapable.html |