4 GIs Charged In Iraq Rape-Slaying Case
Sunday, July 9th, 2006 by RLRFrom Yahoo News
Three U.S. soldiers have been charged with rape and murder and a fourth with dereliction of duty in the alleged rape-slaying of a young Iraqi woman and the killings of her relatives in Mahmoudiya, the military said Sunday.
The four were accused Saturday following an investigation into allegations that American soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division raped the teenager and killed her and three relatives at her home south of Baghdad. Ex-soldier Steven D. Green was arrested last week in North Carolina and has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and four counts of murder.
The U.S. statement said the four soldiers still on active duty will face an Article 32 investigation, similar to a grand jury hearing in civilian law. The Article 32 proceeding will determine whether there is enough evidence to place them on trial.
One of the soldiers was charged with failing to report the attack but is not believed to have participated in it directly, the statement said. The names of the four soldiers were not released.
I hate to say this but these soldiers probably thought they were justified in committing this heinous crime. I try to see it from their point of view (hard to do since I am not there). Yes, what happened was extemely disgusting and uncalled for, but they have seen things no one should see. Seen freinds die. They were seeking revenge which is common. Granted the way they went about it was TOTALLY wrong, but they felt it the best way to avenge crimes against fellow soldiers/pals.