Judge Reduces Term in Iraqi Teen Killing

[Barrett808]

Judge Reduces Term in Iraqi Teen Killing
By JOHN MILBURN
Associated Press Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A military commander has reduced the sentence of a soldier convicted of murder for killing a severely wounded Iraqi teenager, and he is scheduled to be released from prison next month.

For what his supporters have called a mercy killing, Staff Sgt. Johnny Horne Jr., 31, received a three-year sentence after pleading guilty to unpremeditated murder at his court-martial in December.

Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, reduced that sentence to one year. The release date for Horne, who is based at Fort Riley, is now Sept. 14.

The general didn't indicate why he reduced the prison term, said Master Sgt. David Larsen, a spokesman for the division. The decision was made in June.

"He considered the record of trial, information provided by the defense and the staff judge advocate's advice on sentencing," Larsen said.

He declined to comment on claims from some veterans that Horne, of Wilson, N.C., was wrongly prosecuted.

(more)

http://580wdbo.com/common/ap/2005/08/16/D8C16NU80.html

[saigon68]

1. Only killed a "Rag-Head"

</sarcasm>

In my War they called them Dinks, Slopes and Zipper Heads.

[MisterP]

2. if I hear "Unless you have been there, you don't understand it"

one more time, I'm going to bean somone with fire tongs: these assclowns with Toby Keith echoing through their noggins are not only endangering themselves with these "cowboy" stunts, they're endangering every U.S. soldier--including my cousin--and Iraqi civilian in the area

[MisterP]

3. duplicate, dangit