A second US soldier has pleaded guilty to raping and killing a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and murdering her family, a crime for which three others still face charges.

A military judge read out the plea agreement on Tuesday to Sergeant Paul Cortez, 24.

Cortez described how he held the girl down and acted as a lookout so other men could rape the teenager before she and her family were killed.

He could face life in prison without possibility of parole for the rape and four counts of murder committed in Mahmudiya in March 2006.

In all, four current and one former soldier were charged with gang raping Abeer Qassim al-Janabi and murdering her and her family, a crime that outraged Iraqis and ratcheted up tension in the war zone.

The Mahmudiya case was one of several killings and abuses involving US soldiers. It prompted Iraqi officials to call for a review of foreign troops' immunity from prosecution in Iraq.

Specialist James Barker pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced to 90 years in a military prison.

Plea agreement

In the plea agreement, Cortez said he held the girl's hands while Barker raped her, then he raped her himself.

The suspected ringleader, Steven Green, shot to death the girl's father, mother and six-year-old sister. He then raped the girl while Cortez acted as a lookout. Green finally shot the girl dead, according to the plea agreement.

Cortez, wearing a dress green uniform and flanked by his civilian lawyer and his military lawyer, showed little reaction to the judge's recitation of the crime. Fewer than two dozen spectators attended the trial in a tiny courtroom inside a Kentucky military base.

Despite his guilty plea, Cortez did not agree that the rape and murder were premeditated. His lawyer, William Cassara, said prosecutors will try to prove on Wednesday that the crime was planned ahead of time.

Alex Pickands, the prosecuting lawyer, said the soldiers "gathered together over cards and booze" last year in Baghdad and came up with a plan to rape and murder the girl.

Other charges

Even if premeditation is not proven, the sentencing options are the same: a maximum of life in prison without parole or a minimum of life in prison with the possibility of parole. Barker and Cortez both avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty. Sentencing is expected on Wednesday or Thursday.

The trial was adjourned after less than three hours so that lawyers could discuss Cortez's involvement in the burning of the girl's body in an attempt to cover up the attack. Cortez pleaded guilty to arson and breaking into the girl's house.

The suspected ringleader, Green, was discharged from the army for a "personality disorder" and is in a Kentucky prison awaiting civilian trial.

Cortez also pleaded guilty to helping get rid of the murder weapon, an AK-47, which was thrown into a canal. He also admitted to drinking whisky prior to the attack, a violation of army rules against alcohol in that area of Iraq.

The other soldiers accused in the case are Private Jesse Spielman and Private Bryan Howard.

MAKE WAY FOR DEMOCRACY!!!! They should be given the death penalty. To illegaly invade ones country is bad enough, but to intentionally rape a girl and kill her family and then try to cover it up is sick and deserves punishment, whether it be from the iraqis or the us government. And the punishment should be no less than death. At least the Britsh troops have abit of morals, unlike some of the demented, and mentally disturbed, Americn nutters.

Please provide a link to the story or it will be deleted. News stories without a link to the source are not permitted in this section.

Originally Posted by Isaac

<snip>
MAKE WAY FOR DEMOCRACY!!!! They should be given the death penalty. To illegaly invade ones country is bad enough, but to intentionally rape a girl and kill her family and then try to cover it up is sick and deserves punishment, whether it be from the iraqis or the us government. And the punishment should be no less than death. At least the Britsh troops have abit of morals, unlike some of the demented, and mentally disturbed, Americn nutters.

Forget about the formality of linking to the article cited. How about taking down this post from removed.

Is this kind a hate-mongering really the intent of the forum founders? Exactly how is shockingly offensive garbage like this, directed against about 1/10 of the human beings on the face of the Earth supposed to lead to greater tolerance?

when you get tired of spewing venom, I want you to look real closely at the front end of one those cool 2-decker London busses (you know the ones...like the one of your buds blew up in self defence). To get the best possbile mind-altering experience, make sure the bus is traveling about 40 MPH.

Originally Posted by Cognescenti

Forget about the formality of linking to the article cited. How about taking down this post from Mr. "changing hearts and minds".

Is this kind a hate-mongering really the intent of the forum founders? Exactly how is shockingly offensive garbage like this, directed against about 1/10 of the human beings on the face of the Earth supposed to lead to greater tolerance?

Isaac, when you get tired of spewing venom, I want you to look real closely at the front end of one those cool 2-decker London busses (you know the ones...like the one of your buds blew up in self defence). To get the best possbile mind-altering experience, make sure the bus is traveling about 40 MPH.

It seems as if that guy is happy the rape occured because it allows him to stereotype all Americans. Gee, I guess it is ok to call all muslims terrorist then, right?

Originally Posted by Cognescenti

Forget about the formality of linking to the article cited. How about taking down this post from Removed

Is this kind a hate-mongering really the intent of the forum founders? Exactly how is shockingly offensive garbage like this, directed against about 1/10 of the human beings on the face of the Earth supposed to lead to greater tolerance?

when you get tired of spewing venom, I want you to look real closely at the front end of one those cool 2-decker London busses (you know the ones...like the one of your buds blew up in self defence). To get the best possbile mind-altering experience, make sure the bus is traveling about 40 MPH.

Well put!
And since removed wants to blame every American for the actions of a few, then surely he must conclude that every Muslim is responsible for 9-11.

The postrers comment are open for discussion and it is far better for those thoughts and words to be openly discussed and debated. However, it is necessary for all of us to refrain from addressing the poster. Keep all discussions to the topic not the poster.

Originally Posted by Woodrow

The postrers comment are open for discussion and it is far better for those thoughts and words to be openly discussed and debated. However, it is necessary for all of us to refrain from addressing the poster. Keep all discussions to the topic not the poster.

Why? Be nice to those that sow hate?

Originally Posted by wilberhum

Why? Be nice to those that sow hate?

Because most of us are intelligent and mature enough to be able to do so.

^^ Sorry i really thought that was funny....
Why act as if stuff like this doesnt happen ..but yea source would be nice.

Originally Posted by Tayyaba

^^ Sorry i really thought that was funny....
Why act as if stuff like this doesnt happen ..but yea source would be nice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6156656.stm

Or just do a search on any of the names.

I don't think any one is acting like this stuff doesn't happen. You would have to live with your head in the sand or be in total denial to not beleive that it happens.

The article is genuine and the message after it is hate. I have no objections to the article.

Originally Posted by Isaac

A second US soldier has pleaded guilty to raping and killing a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and murdering her family, a crime for which three others still face charges.

A military judge read out the plea agreement on Tuesday to Sergeant Paul Cortez, 24.

Cortez described how he held the girl down and acted as a lookout so other men could rape the teenager before she and her family were killed.

He could face life in prison without possibility of parole for the rape and four counts of murder committed in Mahmudiya in March 2006.

In all, four current and one former soldier were charged with gang raping Abeer Qassim al-Janabi and murdering her and her family, a crime that outraged Iraqis and ratcheted up tension in the war zone.

The Mahmudiya case was one of several killings and abuses involving US soldiers. It prompted Iraqi officials to call for a review of foreign troops' immunity from prosecution in Iraq.

Specialist James Barker pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced to 90 years in a military prison.

Plea agreement

In the plea agreement, Cortez said he held the girl's hands while Barker raped her, then he raped her himself.

The suspected ringleader, Steven Green, shot to death the girl's father, mother and six-year-old sister. He then raped the girl while Cortez acted as a lookout. Green finally shot the girl dead, according to the plea agreement.

Cortez, wearing a dress green uniform and flanked by his civilian lawyer and his military lawyer, showed little reaction to the judge's recitation of the crime. Fewer than two dozen spectators attended the trial in a tiny courtroom inside a Kentucky military base.

Despite his guilty plea, Cortez did not agree that the rape and murder were premeditated. His lawyer, William Cassara, said prosecutors will try to prove on Wednesday that the crime was planned ahead of time.

Alex Pickands, the prosecuting lawyer, said the soldiers "gathered together over cards and booze" last year in Baghdad and came up with a plan to rape and murder the girl.

Other charges

Even if premeditation is not proven, the sentencing options are the same: a maximum of life in prison without parole or a minimum of life in prison with the possibility of parole. Barker and Cortez both avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty. Sentencing is expected on Wednesday or Thursday.

The trial was adjourned after less than three hours so that lawyers could discuss Cortez's involvement in the burning of the girl's body in an attempt to cover up the attack. Cortez pleaded guilty to arson and breaking into the girl's house.

The suspected ringleader, Green, was discharged from the army for a "personality disorder" and is in a Kentucky prison awaiting civilian trial.

Cortez also pleaded guilty to helping get rid of the murder weapon, an AK-47, which was thrown into a canal. He also admitted to drinking whisky prior to the attack, a violation of army rules against alcohol in that area of Iraq.

The other soldiers accused in the case are Private Jesse Spielman and Private Bryan Howard.

MAKE WAY FOR DEMOCRACY!!!! They should be given the death penalty. To illegaly invade ones country is bad enough, but to intentionally rape a girl and kill her family and then try to cover it up is sick and deserves punishment, whether it be from the iraqis or the us government. And the punishment should be no less than death. At least the Britsh troops have abit of morals, unlike some of the demented, and mentally disturbed, Americn nutters.

that is just so disgustin and it makes me more mad wen we cant do anythin about it!

^^True...billions of Muslims and we are barely doin squat!

Live imprisonment is a much harsher punishment then death. When a person receives the death penalty he quite often repents and dies a peaceful death. A life in prison means the person is forced to live and reflect upon his actions for many years. There is no easy out and no escaping to an early grave. Repentance has to be earned each and every day and the inner most thoughts can be worse than any man made torture.

that is true, but these days prison doesnt even seenm 2 be that bad. people get all the luxuries in there when they should really hav nothin.

Originally Posted by nelly

that is true, but these days prison doesnt even seenm 2 be that bad. people get all the luxuries in there when they should really hav nothin.

Try a little "Hard Time" and see if it "doesnt even seenm 2 be that bad".
Luxuries? What prisons have you seen? When you loose your freedom you have just about lost it all.