Middle East News
US soldier sentenced 100 years prison for rape, murder in Iraq
Feb 23, 2007, 5:11 GMT
Washington - A US soldier was Thursday given a 100-year sentence in a military prison for raping and murdering a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her family, local media reported.
Sgt Paul Cortez, 24, pleaded guilty on Wednesday and presiding judge Col Stephen R Henley accepted Cortez's plea agreement, finding him guilty of conspiracy to commit rape, four counts of felony murder, rape, violation of a general order and housebreaking, according to The Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville, Tennessee.
By pleading guilty Cortez, who was also given a dishonourable discharge, avoided the death penalty and will be eligible to seek parole in 10 years.
In November another soldier who pleaded guilty for the same crime was sentenced to 90 years in a military prison. Two other soldiers and a former soldier are awaiting trial for their role in the murders.
The four US soldiers belonged to the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, which is also where the hearing took place. They have been charged with the rape and murder of the girl, her seven-year-old sister and parents in their home outside Baghdad last March. The sentence is the longest handed down by a US military court so far for crimes committed in Iraq.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
rot and burn
He deserved what he got!
May he burn in hell!!!
100 years is typical..unobtainable. For committing such horrendous crimes towards children, the death penalty should be the only sentence given.
To be up for parole in ten years insidious and disrespectful to those poor children who suffered rape and murder.
Very interesting.
I hope that the whole world sees what United States are doing.
There was a poll done in 112 countires in the world about which country is the
most hated.Poll contained ALL european countries,Australia,most of South America..
1# Not Iran or Iraq or Korea...THE UNITED STATES.
War crimes are not unusual for US military! Well the article states eligible for parole in 10 years?! Why am I not surprised by this.
HE AND ALL THE OTHER US SOLIDERS FIGHTING IN IRAQ FOR US INCLUDING BUSH THEY SHOULD BE BEHEADED. BY PUNSHING ONE OR TWO YOU DO NOT BECOME TRUE.
the crime that these soldiers have commited has brought shame to their country. there should be grevious punishment for the heinious crime commited.
@ Oppie
please stay on topic, your comment has nothing to do with this story.
While I count myself 'disapproving' of the USA political policies.
Do not mistaken that i have the sympathy to agree with your inflammatory remarks, while your statistics may or may not be true, that does not matter.
it does not reflect on the nature of this story.
All we have here is a criminal, that took advantage of his status at that opportunistic time, to commit a most foul crime.
Do not profess to have any moral high ground, as we know no matter which country you would care to mention, we will fine the same law-breaking & inhumane people there, be they soldiers, politicians or simple civilian.
You are merely hijacking this comment feed, if I was American I would even call it a 'terrorist' act, but luckily im just a Brit, I would just call you a bloody prick. :p
It is a clear message of the U.S.A about the bad soldiers in IRAK but the family was killed in IRAK so the need to stay 100 years in IRAK prison.
whats IRAK?
US killed millions of childern, all are killers so dont defend usa shame on usa which burried billions of inocent smiles.
10 years and out, Hollywood here we come. Casualities of War 2? Makes me sick that the country we are supposed to be saving from an Evil dictator, should have un-professional hill-billy redneck soliders let loose on this already terrified Iraqi family. Shame on YOU!
My comment relates to the soldiers found guilty of raping and murdering the 14 year-old Iraqi girl. Of course there is little if not no justification for the actions of the soldiers, but U.S. keeps putting its citizens, in the form of soldiers, in highly unusual, abnormal and stressful situations and expects them to behave normally. Does anyone remember the soldier court-martialled for participating in the Mylai massacre in Vietnam. Similar thing; crazy behaviour under crazy circumstances.
Jamel, There is not one country in this world that does not have blood on its hands, not one! to advocate violence towards any human being is a crime against god. We must all come to understand that might does not make right. America will learn that someday as most of the other countries in the world have. People make mistakes and are subject to feelings that control thier action no matter what country they are from.
This person does not deserve the death penalty for only god has the right to give and take life. I do think that as a human he should be sent to prison for the rest of his life. Locked away for acting like an animal. I have serious reservations that he will ever see the light of day.
US Military prisoners usually serve 90% of thier sentence and do not usually get paroled.
Why is it that killing an innocent person up close and personal is a war crime; but, dropping a bomb (even an atomic bomb) on innocent people is celebrated? When someone can answer that question for me, I will better understand war.
JAMAL shut up. Your being a hypocrite. How can you show anger AT ALL about a killing while saying that everyone should be beheaded?
This comment is in response to Jamal who posted: HE AND ALL THE OTHER US SOLIDERS FIGHTING IN IRAQ FOR US INCLUDING BUSH THEY SHOULD BE BEHEADED. BY PUNSHING ONE OR TWO YOU DO NOT BECOME TRUE.....I think this type of behavior by anyone in our military is inexcusable and makes our country look bad, but why should all of the military personnel serving in Iraq be beheaded? They are doing their job. They don't decide to go to Iraq they signed a contract to protect our country and our current president believes Iraq is the threat. My husband served in Iraq. He is an honest husband, father, citizen...why should he be punished for doing his job?!?! I think you need to reconsider why you have the freedom of speech on this website along with all of the other rights you have in this country and the cost to other people and their families who have fought for your rights and to keep you safe. For the most part the men and women who serve our country are honest good people. It is a shame that people like this guy are ruining our reputation as a country. But your ignorance is disgusting as well.
It has been downright embarrassing to be an American for the last 4 years. And with stories like this one, beyond embarrassing - more like painfully shameful. I hope I will live long enough to see the day when the US gets back even half of the stature it has lost under the current 'leader'. Saddam may not have been a nice fellow, but Iraq and the region, and the US and its allies would have been thousands of times better off now if Iraq had not been violated in the first place.
I agree with Cliff,war brings out the worst in us,a war that should not have happened.The US invaded with hidden agendas,so their soldiers are fighting a war without true purpose which can reflect on their motives/attitude to Iraq.God help us all.
'It has been downright embarrassing to be an American for the last 4 years.'
Leave. Pack up and go instead of whining on the internet about the greatest country in the world. There are literally hundreds of people clamoring to take your place.
Bye.
By saying that US soldiers in IRAQ are doing there duty, so there are paid killers or killers on rent. SO you simply say that killers on rent are not paid by government by army soliders they are also killers on rent that are paid by US government., so they have licence to kill. bening honest husband means nothing nothing beaing honest men is something.
This is not fight for country, this is fight for fear.
Quoted by JAMAL:
'By saying that US soldiers in IRAQ are doing there duty, so there are paid killers or killers on rent. SO you simply say that killers on rent are not paid by government by army soliders they are also killers on rent that are paid by US government., so they have licence to kill. bening honest husband means nothing nothing beaing honest men is something.'
WOW, Everything is so clear now, how could I not see it before!
The reason that we kill, is because we pay rent and kill, but not paid to kill, so when we kill we don't pay but we rent the kill, which means that we don't kill for good, only rent to kill for bad.
this man is one of six ordinary soldiers who sat together and played cards.
He plea bargained so he more than likely will be released in 10 years.
If he had taken part in such a crime in america against white christians he would be killed or spend the rest of his misersble life in a cell.
Back to the card game.
One of the six ordinary soldiers suggested to the other 5 that they should rape an iraqui girl and the other 5 aggreed. Not one of them said no.
They then went to the house of this 14 year old child and took her younger sister, her young mother and father and locked them in a room to hear their daughter's screams as she was systematically raped by each ordinary soldier.
Still none of these average american boys tried to stop it or interveen.
They then shot her younger sister , her mother and her father and when the last one of them had defialed this 14 year old child they shot her six times in the face poured petrol oll over her broken little body an set her on fire.
Then like most american atrocities they tried to blame these people that they call insurgents. What is an insurgent? this is the new american word for opposition in a war started by america. Their other new word to avoid international law is illegal combattant, again a member of the other side in a war started by america. This is what six average american soldiers are capable of without any of the six saying wait lads that is wrong.
George and dick look at what you have turned your own young men into.
Well done
Possible parole in 10 year. Who speaks for the victims when this comes up? These guys should never see freedom again period.
'He plea bargained so he more than likely will be released in 10 years.'
That is just nonsense. He wont have another free day sa long as he lives.
jamal your statements are sad to the hearts of real americans are forces fighting for your rotten butt!! but you should not talk big on the web, you should tell a marine or army personal member what you told us!!! and you will see how tough your little mouth is!!!
george we dont need you here, i agree with last post leave
Troops through out history have often commited crimes but from some of the posts here you would think that the countries it has effected had no crime before these events.
If he did it in Iraq then he needs to stand trial in Iraq.
Well, he'll be out in as little as 10 years. Would the sentence had been the same if the slain family incl. the gang raped 14 year old girl had been American? Puke.
Soldiers in the front lines are subjected to many pressures. Many human beings tend to display their ugly/noble nature under pressure. However its possible that soldiers that perform well in combat tend to be more inhumane in nature(must be some killer instinct), ironically saving his squad.
A single individual's action (whether evil or good) should only be viewed at a micro-perpective, not representing an organisation. I agree however that US law is too lenient(almost close to Canada's). War never changes but the war crimes do. For a lack of words, the system is questionable and should be revised.
The inability to perform tasks without emotions is human trait that makes us a either a target for the extremists, or one of them ourselves.
page: 1
MatFeb 23rd, 2007 - 05:58:04
Good. Hope he rots.
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