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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US soldier admits Iraq girl rape | US soldier admits Iraq girl rape |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A US Army soldier has pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and helping murder her and her family. | A US Army soldier has pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and helping murder her and her family. |
| Spc James Barker agreed to the plea deal at the start of his court-martial in the US to avoid the death penalty, his civilian lawyer said. | Spc James Barker agreed to the plea deal at the start of his court-martial in the US to avoid the death penalty, his civilian lawyer said. |
| A criminal investigation began in June into the alleged killing of the family of four in their home in Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, in March 2006. | A criminal investigation began in June into the alleged killing of the family of four in their home in Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, in March 2006. |
| Spc Barker is one of four US soldiers charged with premeditated murder. | Spc Barker is one of four US soldiers charged with premeditated murder. |
| They are alleged to have helped a former private - who has since left the army - to plan, carry out and cover up the attack. Two of the soldiers could face the death penalty if found guilty. | They are alleged to have helped a former private - who has since left the army - to plan, carry out and cover up the attack. Two of the soldiers could face the death penalty if found guilty. |
| All four soldiers belong to the 2nd Brigade of the elite 101st Airborne Division. | |
| Spc Barker agreed to co-operate with prosecutors and will testify against the others, his civilian lawyer David Sheldon said. | Spc Barker agreed to co-operate with prosecutors and will testify against the others, his civilian lawyer David Sheldon said. |
| The others charged with rape and murder were Pfc Jesse Spielman, Sgt Paul Cortez, and Pfc Bryan Howard. | The others charged with rape and murder were Pfc Jesse Spielman, Sgt Paul Cortez, and Pfc Bryan Howard. |
| In addition, former soldier Steven Green has been charged in a civilian court and is awaiting trial in a Kentucky jail. He pleaded not guilty in July. | |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Sgt Cortez was arraigned at the start of his court-martial. |