U.S. soldier gets 100 years for Iraq rape, killings

[maximus maximus]

This is just wrong... I dont even know what to say.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/22/ussoldier.rape.ap/index.html

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- A U.S. soldier was sentenced to 100 years in prison Thursday for the gang rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the killing of her family last year.

Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24, also was given a dishonorable discharge. He will be eligible for parole in 10 years under the terms of his plea agreement.

Cortez, of Barstow, California, pleaded guilty this week to four counts of felony murder, rape and conspiracy to rape in a case considered among the worst atrocities by U.S. military personnel in Iraq.

In his plea agreement, he said he conspired with three other soldiers from the Fort Campbell-based 101st Airborne Division to rape 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi. The girl, her parents and a younger sister were all killed.

Earlier Thursday, tears rolled down Cortez's face as he apologized for the rape and murders. He said he could not explain why he took part.

"I still don't have an answer," Cortez told the judge. "I don't know why. I wish I hadn't. The lives of four innocent people were taken. I want to apologize for all of the pain and suffering I have caused the al-Janabi family."

The military judge hearing the case, Col. Stephen R. Henley, issued a sentence of life in prison without parole, the maximum for the charges. Under military law, the defendant is given the lesser sentence unless he violates terms of the plea agreement, which requires Cortez to testify against others charged in the case.

Psychologist Charles Figley testified that Cortez and the other soldiers likely suffered stress brought on by fatigue and trauma.

"It eats you up," Figley said. "It's a horrible thing. This is not unique. We've seen this in other wars."

Five soldiers who served with Cortez in Iraq testified that his actions were out of character and described the hardships of war they experienced, including sleep deprivation and the lack of running water.

"I just never would have seen it coming," said Staff Sgt. Tim Briggs, who has known Cortez for five years and served with him in Iraq.

Prosecutors said the stress was no excuse for the actions of Cortez and the other soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell.

On Wednesday, Cortez described raping the girl in her family's home in Mahmoudiya last March, along with Spc. James Barker, 24. Barker pleaded guilty in November to rape and murder and was sentenced to 90 years in military prison.

Cortez said this week that former private Steven D. Green raped the girl in front of him; shot her father, mother and sister; and then shot her in the head. He also testified that the soldiers attempted to burn the girl's body; burned their own clothes; and threw the murder weapon, an AK-47, into a canal in an attempt to dispose of the evidence.

Cortez was found not guilty of more serious charges of premeditated murder and conspiracy to premeditated murder.

Pfcs. Jesse Spielman, 22, and Bryan Howard, 19, await courts-martial. Green, who is accused of being the ringleader but was discharged from the military before being charged, will be prosecuted in a federal court in Kentucky.

 

[leftyman]

He will be eligible for parole in 10 years under the terms of his plea agreement.

 

[Aharami]

my sympathy lies with the girl that got gang raped and killed

 

[50cent1228]

wow thats nuts

 

[maximus maximus]

Originally posted by: Aharami
my sympathy lies with the girl that got gang raped and killed

I changed the title to indicate the same.. I think my comment was kinda misleading.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: maximus maximus

Originally posted by: Aharami
my sympathy lies with the girl that got gang raped and killed

I changed the title to indicate the same.. I think my comment was kinda misleading.

oh ok. i took your previous title as saying that it was courts' misuse of power by giving the perp 100 yrs

 

[Aharami]

Cortez said this week that former private Steven D. Green raped the girl in front of him; shot her father, mother and sister; and then shot her in the head. He also testified that the soldiers attempted to burn the girl's body; burned their own clothes; and threw the murder weapon, an AK-47, into a canal in an attempt to dispose of the evidence.

we have some barbarians in the military

 

[Feneant2]

Not bad for 5 minutes of fun. I really hope that their momentary lapse of judgement is worth the rest of their life in jail. (Or at least 10 years)

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Also check this article... They are nothing but beasts...

 

[Queasy]

And this is the difference between the US Military and the insurgents/terrorists. We prosecute and put away people like this. The insurgents/terrorists encourage and celebrate this kind of behavior from their own.

 

[Preyhunter]

Originally posted by: Aharami


we have some barbarians in the military

We have some barbarians outside of the military, too. What's your point? :disgust:

 

[Soundmanred]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned one of the worst parts - she was 14 years old.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Well, since the military is made up of normal people from our society you'd have to expect that a few monsters would be able to get into the system. I don't see this as a total misuse of power by US soldiers in Iraq though. I see it as a crime committed by a few US soldiers. Nothing more...nothing less.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Preyhunter

Originally posted by: Aharami


we have some barbarians in the military

We have some barbarians outside of the military, too. What's your point? :disgust:

i believe his point is that there are some barbarians in the military ... i think, i'm not sure.

 

[loic2003]

at the end of the day you're training guys who aren't exactly MENSA candidates as emotionless killing machines, then putting them in a scary, testosterone-fuelled environment. That's one sick bastard though; I hope the same gets done to him in jail.

You've got to wonder how many americans/british soldiers will be attacked and killed directly because of this incident.

 

[DaShen]

"It eats you up," Figley said. "It's a horrible thing. This is not unique. We've seen this in other wars."

It is really sad, but it is deluded to think that this stuff isn't common in war. It is sickening some of the selfish bastards out there. I wonder if they will get gang raped in military prison. Even then, there is still no justice.

 

[aswedc]

Someone change that title to 10 years...ridiculous.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1
Also check this article... They are nothing but beasts...

No decent human being could do that to someone. WTH!

These people should be given to the Iraqi public. Let them deal with those "soldiers" how they see fit. That would at least be slight justice.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: aswedc
Someone change that title to 10 years...ridiculous.

It's doubtful he'll get paroled. Violent criminals who committed especially heinous crimes have a very hard time getting parole. He'll probably be in for at least 20 years.

 

[Hammerhead]

Originally posted by: maximus maximus
Total misuse of power by US soldiers in Iraq

How is this misuse of power? He didn't use his "power" as a Sgt. to rape her.
Stop trying to put a twist on this, fvcker.
All they are are just straight up rapists and murderers.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: aswedc
Someone change that title to 10 years...ridiculous.

It's doubtful he'll get paroled. Violent criminals who committed especially heinous crimes have a very hard time getting parole. He'll probably be in for at least 20 years.

I'm thinking he'll be in for the rest of his life. Military courts are much tougher than civilian.

 

[MisterJackson]

In civilian courts he'd be facing, and probably recieving, the death penalty. It's a shame the military courts won't do the same in this case. This is a rabid dog and should be disposed of as such.

I love and respect our military, my Dad did three tours in Nam and some of the stuff he's told me (VERY rarely talks about it) makes this look like a cake walk (no offense meant to the lives lost).

This is a matter of a human gone bad, not a soldier, or the military he's in, gone bad.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
In civilian courts he'd be facing, and probably recieving, the death penalty. It's a shame the military courts won't do the same in this case. This is a rabid dog and should be disposed of as such.

The guy made a plea bargain. He wouldn't be facing the death penalty in a civilian court if he made a plea bargain there either.

 

[HannibalX]

There are evil people in every country, the USA is no exception. I just think we have fewer evil people than most countries.

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
In civilian courts he'd be facing, and probably recieving, the death penalty. It's a shame the military courts won't do the same in this case. This is a rabid dog and should be disposed of as such.

The guy made a plea bargain. He wouldn't be facing the death penalty in a civilian court if he made a plea bargain there either.

Yes, BUT they also said in the article that WITHOUT the plea bargin the MAXIMUM sentence for his crimes is 100 years in jail, so the plea is really irrelevant in my statement. The plea just knocked him down to ten years. Without the plea there'd still be no death penalty.

The military judge hearing the case, Col. Stephen R. Henley, issued a sentence of life in prison without parole, the maximum for the charges. Under military law, the defendant is given the lesser sentence unless he violates terms of the plea agreement, which requires Cortez to testify against others charged in the case.