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| Army sergeant pleads guilty to killing five fellow servicemen | Army sergeant pleads guilty to killing five fellow servicemen |
| (17 days later) | |
| A US army sergeant has pleaded guilty to killing four other soldiers and a navy officer in 2009 at a mental health clinic in Baghdad during the Iraq war. | A US army sergeant has pleaded guilty to killing four other soldiers and a navy officer in 2009 at a mental health clinic in Baghdad during the Iraq war. |
| The plea agreement in a military court at Joint Base Lewis-McChord means John Russell will avoid the death sentence. His maximum sentence would be a life term. | The plea agreement in a military court at Joint Base Lewis-McChord means John Russell will avoid the death sentence. His maximum sentence would be a life term. |
| Russell carried out the shootings at the Camp Liberty Combat Stress Centre near Baghdad in May 2009. It was one of the worst instances of soldier-on-soldier violence in the Iraq war. | Russell carried out the shootings at the Camp Liberty Combat Stress Centre near Baghdad in May 2009. It was one of the worst instances of soldier-on-soldier violence in the Iraq war. |
| Russell said in court he was in a rage when he opened fire. "I wanted the pain to stop," he said. He read out a written statement detailing his memories of the killings. | Russell said in court he was in a rage when he opened fire. "I wanted the pain to stop," he said. He read out a written statement detailing his memories of the killings. |
| Russell was nearing the end of his third tour of Iraq when his behaviour changed, members of his unit testified in 2009. They said he became more distant in the days before the 11 May 2009 attack and that he seemed paranoid that his unit was trying to end his career. | Russell was nearing the end of his third tour of Iraq when his behaviour changed, members of his unit testified in 2009. They said he became more distant in the days before the 11 May 2009 attack and that he seemed paranoid that his unit was trying to end his career. |
| On 8 May, Russell sought help at a combat stress clinic at Camp Stryker, where his unit was located. Two days later he was referred to the Camp Liberty clinic, where he received counselling and prescription medication. | On 8 May, Russell sought help at a combat stress clinic at Camp Stryker, where his unit was located. Two days later he was referred to the Camp Liberty clinic, where he received counselling and prescription medication. |
| The following day witnesses saw Russell crying and talking about hurting himself. He went back to the clinic where a doctor told him he needed to get help or he would hurt himself. Russell tried to surrender to military police to lock him up so he wouldn't hurt himself or others, witnesses said. | The following day witnesses saw Russell crying and talking about hurting himself. He went back to the clinic where a doctor told him he needed to get help or he would hurt himself. Russell tried to surrender to military police to lock him up so he wouldn't hurt himself or others, witnesses said. |
| Military prosecutors say Russell left the clinic and later returned with a rifle he took from his unit headquarters and began firing. | Military prosecutors say Russell left the clinic and later returned with a rifle he took from his unit headquarters and began firing. |
| Russell said he had wanted to hurt a doctor who he thought had encouraged him to commit suicide. He didn't find the doctor but went on with the shooting. | Russell said he had wanted to hurt a doctor who he thought had encouraged him to commit suicide. He didn't find the doctor but went on with the shooting. |
| Two evaluations presented during a 2009 hearing said Russell suffered from severe depression with psychotic features and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. A March 2011 evaluation said the major depression with psychotic features was in partial remission. | Two evaluations presented during a 2009 hearing said Russell suffered from severe depression with psychotic features and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. A March 2011 evaluation said the major depression with psychotic features was in partial remission. |
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