US News
US soldier pleads guilty in Iraq rape, murder case
By DPA
Nov 15, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - A US soldier pleaded guilty on Wednesday on charges involving the rape of a 14-year-old Iraqi and the subsequent killing of the girl and her family, a US military spokesman said.

No date for the sentencing of Specialist James Barker, 23, has been set, said Major Jeff Allen, a spokesman at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where the court martial was taking place. He pleaded guilty in a plea bargain the prevents him facing the death penalty.

Barker is one of four US soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division charged with the rape and murder of the girl, her 7-year-old sister and parents in their home outside Baghdad.

Last week, former US Army private Steve Green pleaded innocent to charges of murder and sexual assault. He has been discharged from the army since the March slaying and is being tried in a federal court.

The four men were also accused of trying to coverup the crimes by burning the bodies.