22 May, 2009

Ex-Soldier Spared Execution Over Iraq Rape

Ex-Soldier Spared Execution Over Iraq Rape

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Private Steven Green was convicted of 16 counts of murder, rape and obstructing justice earlier this month.

But the jury in Kentucky were unable to agree over whether to execute him after 10 hours of deliberation.

Without a unanimous decision, the judge will have to sentence him to life in jail without the possibility of parole.

Abeer al-Janabi, 14, was targetted by a group of soldiers who plotted over beer and card games in Baghdad.

After the brutul sexual assault in March 2006, she was killed along with her parents and six-year-old sister.

They set Abeer's body on fire to destroy the evidence.

Three other soldiers are serving life sentences for their role, another is serving a 27 month term for acting as a lookout.

Green's lawyer had described him as a victim of the stresses of combat and a "broken warrior" who had been "failed" by the US.

He will be formally sentenced on September 4.

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