MJMANDALAY
02-21-2007, 03:37 PM
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — A military judge on Wednesday approved a second U.S. soldier's guilty plea to the gang **** and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the slaying of her family.
Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24, entered the plea Tuesday to four murders, **** and conspiracy to ****. With Col. Stephen R. Henley's approval, Cortez will avoid the death penalty.
At a hearing Wednesday, Cortez recounted events on the day of the attack, saying he held the girl down and acted as a lookout while others took turns attacking her.
Cortez said at one point that "it wasn't the first time anybody had talked about having sex with an Iraqi female." He broke down in tears during the description and the judge briefly recessed the hearing.
In the plea agreement read in court Tuesday, Cortez said he conspired with three other soldiers — Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, Spc. James P. Barker and Steven D. Green, who has been discharged — to **** 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi.
According to the plea deal, Cortez, Spielman and Barker illegally went into the home of the girl's family in Mahmoudiya, and Cortez held her while Barker ***** her. While Cortez ***** her, Green shot and killed the girl's parents and younger sister, the agreement said.
Cortez then acted as a lookout while Green ***** the girl, and Green shot her, the document said. Cortez helped burn the girl's body and the home, then burned his clothes.
Spielman threw the AK-47 used to kill the family in a canal, the deal said. Cortez also admitted drinking whiskey before going to the home, which broke the Army's rules against drinking alcohol.
Two other soldiers await courts-martial. All the suspected participants are or were members of the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell on the Kentucky-Tennessee line.
The March 2006 killing of the family was originally reported to be the work of insurgents. Later, soldiers told their superiors of their suspicion that U.S. soldiers were involved. The deaths are considered among the worst in a series of alleged atrocities by U.S. military personnel in Iraq.
Barker, 24, pleaded guilty in November to **** and murder and was sentenced to 90 years in military prison. Spielman, 22, and Bryan L. Howard, 23, await courts-martial. Howard, who is confined to the post, was in the courtroom Tuesday observing Cortez's case.
Green is charged in federal court in Kentucky, accused of being the ringleader. He is being tried as a civilian because he was discharged from the Army before his superiors were aware of his suspected involvement.
Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24, entered the plea Tuesday to four murders, **** and conspiracy to ****. With Col. Stephen R. Henley's approval, Cortez will avoid the death penalty.
At a hearing Wednesday, Cortez recounted events on the day of the attack, saying he held the girl down and acted as a lookout while others took turns attacking her.
Cortez said at one point that "it wasn't the first time anybody had talked about having sex with an Iraqi female." He broke down in tears during the description and the judge briefly recessed the hearing.
In the plea agreement read in court Tuesday, Cortez said he conspired with three other soldiers — Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, Spc. James P. Barker and Steven D. Green, who has been discharged — to **** 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi.
According to the plea deal, Cortez, Spielman and Barker illegally went into the home of the girl's family in Mahmoudiya, and Cortez held her while Barker ***** her. While Cortez ***** her, Green shot and killed the girl's parents and younger sister, the agreement said.
Cortez then acted as a lookout while Green ***** the girl, and Green shot her, the document said. Cortez helped burn the girl's body and the home, then burned his clothes.
Spielman threw the AK-47 used to kill the family in a canal, the deal said. Cortez also admitted drinking whiskey before going to the home, which broke the Army's rules against drinking alcohol.
Two other soldiers await courts-martial. All the suspected participants are or were members of the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell on the Kentucky-Tennessee line.
The March 2006 killing of the family was originally reported to be the work of insurgents. Later, soldiers told their superiors of their suspicion that U.S. soldiers were involved. The deaths are considered among the worst in a series of alleged atrocities by U.S. military personnel in Iraq.
Barker, 24, pleaded guilty in November to **** and murder and was sentenced to 90 years in military prison. Spielman, 22, and Bryan L. Howard, 23, await courts-martial. Howard, who is confined to the post, was in the courtroom Tuesday observing Cortez's case.
Green is charged in federal court in Kentucky, accused of being the ringleader. He is being tried as a civilian because he was discharged from the Army before his superiors were aware of his suspected involvement.