Soldier Sentenced to 100 years in prison.

[Bloodsword]

US soldier sentenced to 100 years for rape

Rose French | Associated Press

Fort Campbell (Kentucky), February 23, 2007


A US soldier was sentenced to 100 years in prison 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 dishonourable discharge on Thursday. 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 US 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



90 years in prison?? Too harsh or too lenient?

[Nil]

Originally Posted by Bloodsword

90 years in prison?? Too harsh or too lenient?

For killing 4 people, one of whom was a 14-year-old girl he raped?

If a civillian did this to US citizens, what do you think would happen?

I would be interested to get Blud's take on this.

[Aen]

........

[Bloodsword]

True but then a psychiatrist said it was due to war-time conditions. We all know how people act during war...but i think in this case the death penalty would have been more appropriate. I believe thats what the so called "ringleader" of the rape will get, since he will be tried in a federal civillian court.

[Uln'Xeresy]

War time or not, you kill a civilan and rape thier daughter, you should get a bullet to your brainpan.

[Arctic_Slicer]

Originally Posted by Uln'Xeresy

War time or not, you kill a civilan and rape thier daughter, you should get a bullet to your brainpan.

The person operating the gun in question will then become a killer himself.

[Aen]

......

[Arctic_Slicer]

Originally Posted by Aen

yeah but its cheaper. Just a nickel :P

Yeah but if you are comdemning someone for the killing of someone else you accomplish nothing by then killing the person you are condemning.

[TheKnight]

Hm...impulse says 'strip him of rank, then gut him on the field' but my service to Tyr requires due process. Law, Justice, and Honour above all else.

[Bludtung]

Soldiers should be tried for all crimes just like everyone else. We're there to help uphold the law. That was a horrible thing, and deserves punishment.

You do have to work hard not to become so desensitized to the plight of people(civlian iraqis). Most of them are just trying to get by. They said they were tired of people smiling in thier face and then shooting them five minutes later. That's the nature of the beast over there; you deal with it. I'm sure the pack mentality got a little too tweaked in that squad.


Sometimes every step forward seems like two back when this kind of thing goes down.