US soldier sentenced to 100 yrs for rape/murder

[CptStern]

A U.S. soldier was sentenced to 100 years in prison Thursday for the gang rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the killing of her family last year.

Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24, also was given a dishonorable discharge. He will be eligible for parole in 10 years under the terms of his plea agreement. [hmm who wants to bet he wont serve more than 10 yrs?]

In his plea agreement, he said he conspired with three other soldiers from the Fort Campbell-based 101st Airborne Division to rape 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi. The girl, her parents and a younger sister were all killed.

Psychologist Charles Figley testified that Cortez and the other soldiers likely suffered stress brought on by fatigue and trauma.

"It eats you up," Figley said. "It's a horrible thing. This is not unique. We've seen this in other wars."

Five soldiers who served with Cortez in Iraq testified that his actions were out of character and described the hardships of war they experienced, including sleep deprivation and the lack of running water.

"I just never would have seen it coming," said Staff Sgt. Tim Briggs, who has known Cortez for five years and served with him in Iraq.

give me a ****ing break, they PLANNED it in advance ..I can see a heat of the moment sort of thing but they knew exactly what they were doing:

Barker has said in a sworn statement that the soldiers drank whiskey and played cards while plotting the assault.

Cortez said this week that former private Steven D. Green raped the girl before he did. Then Green shot her father, mother and sister before shooting the teen in the head, Cortez said.

He also testified that the soldiers tried to burn the girl's body. They burned their own clothes and threw the murder weapon, an AK-47, into a canal in an effort to dispose of the evidence

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070223/D8NF8E000.html

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

100 years! Seriosly thats the life sentance there! Holy Shit you'd never leave!

give me a ****ing break, they PLANNED it in advance ..I can see a heat of the moment sort of thing but they knew exactly what they were doing

Proboaly yeah. Happens a lot in war, but this sod got caught. Wahoo!

 

[VictimOfScience]

Good. Still doesn't make up for the disgusting wrong, but much better than the death penalty imho.

 

[CptStern]

he wasnt eligible ..however private Steven D. Green who was discharged from the military before the trial might be eligible for the death penalty ..I think the prosecution might seek it as it's a high profile case

I'd much rather he was sentenced to 100 years with no chance of parole

 

[VictimOfScience]

I'd much rather he was sentenced to 100 years with no chance of parole

QFMFT.

Still, I still don't like having to pay for his dinners, internet access, cable tv, gym membership, etc etc etc for at least a large portion of that 100 years. Tough call really....

 

[Raziaar]

In all areas of this stupid law systems you see real evil bastards get less sentences with plea bargains. It's a huge flaw in our justice system... giving a criminal a lesser sentence simply because the prosecution can't get as solid of a case against them for the sentence they want.

 

[CptStern]

QFMFT.

Still, I still don't like having to pay for his dinners, internet access, cable tv, gym membership, etc etc etc for at least a large portion of that 100 years. Tough call really....

true ..but ending his life with a syringe is much more merciful than a 100 yr sentence ..mercy that they didnt afford their victems ..so it's worth the expense in my book

 

[Link]

In all areas of this stupid law systems you see real evil bastards get less sentences with plea bargains. It's a huge flaw in our justice system... giving a criminal a lesser sentence simply because the prosecution can't get as solid of a case against them for the sentence they want.

I agree, but untill we can think of a better one, its better than nothing

 

[Remus]

Still, I still don't like having to pay for his dinners, internet access, cable tv, gym membership, etc etc etc for at least a large portion of that 100 years. Tough call really....

WHAT?! What kind of prisons do you got over there, sounds more like a vacation resort to me...

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

WHAT?! What kind of prisons do you got over there, sounds more like a vacation resort to me...

An eternal vacation!:farmer:

 

[smwScott]

WHAT?! What kind of prisons do you got over there, sounds more like a vacation resort to me...

There are lots of prisons like that here. Even some with tennis courts, full library/computer rooms, rec centers, etc. White collar prisons - the types of places Martha Stewart or Ken Lay (if he hadn't croaked) get to go to. For many people it would be a significant step up in life.

This guy however will probably be going to a maximum/high security military prison ... not so nice.

 

[CptStern]

An eternal vacation!:farmer:

he'll be out in 10 years (or earlier) I predict ..his family/pro-military/conservative groups will lobby for parole on the basis that it wasnt his fault on account of the war, he's made amends, he's found jesus etc ..I'm willing to bet he'll see freedom while still a young man

 

[15357]

Good.

 

[CptStern]

please explain why that is good ..you think 10 years is enough for the deaths of 4 innocent civilians. 2 of them under 14, one brutally raped before being summarily executed? please explain yourself

 

[15357]

*reads again*


Oh. Thought it meant 100 years.

 

[Instinct]

Death is too easy for those people. Chances are he'll go through hell for 100 years. Prisoners don't take kindly to people like that

 

[Mr-Fusion]

Strange that prisoners even have a code of conduct.

Child rapists/molesterers/killers ->bad
Good old murderers -> ok.

 

[Instinct]

Well they are the ones that have first hand experience of what it's like to actually murder, I guess everyone has a limit, meaning they can imagine a scale of 'sick mindedness' in a way

 

[Beerdude26]

Well they are the ones that have first hand experience of what it's like to actually murder, I guess everyone has a limit, meaning they can imagine a scale of 'sick mindedness' in a way

Yeah, like /b/ hates pedo's and furries.