American GI given 90 years for rape/murder.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

One bit of justice for Abeer Qasim Hamza al-Janabi and her family.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061117/ts_nm/crime_iraq_soldiers_dc_5

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (Reuters) - One of four U.S. soldiers accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl before killing her and her family was conditionally sentenced on Thursday to up to 90 years in prison with the possibility of parole.

The sentence -- which is subject to review by a higher military authority and could be reduced -- was imposed on Specialist James Barker after a two-day court-martial. He had pleaded guilty to rape and murder and agreed to testify against others charged in the case in exchange for escaping the death penalty.

The gang rape and slayings at Mahmudiya along with the killing of 24 people in Haditha and other U.S. military incidents sparked outrage and calls by officials in Iraq for a review of foreign troops' immunity from Iraqi prosecution.

Barker provided graphic testimony to military investigators about the March 2006 incident at Mahmudiya that was used at a military proceeding in Baghdad last August, resulting in charges against the four and one former soldier. He repeated those descriptions during his court-martial.

The Mahmudiya victims were a 14-year-old girl who was raped and later killed along with her parents and her 6-year-old sister. Barker said those who committed the crime had been drinking whiskey mixed with an energy drink and discussed in advance killing an Iraqi family.

[bullimiami]

1. he needs to spend the rest of his life in prison. he is too sick to be loose.

[uppityperson]

2. kick for Abeer, Hadeel, Fakhriya and Qassim

Good. Now to get Stephen Green also.

Edited to add this bit from article "It was not immediately clear how long he would have to serve before he could seek parole under Thursday's sentence."

[Selatius]

3. It should've been 90 years with no possibility of parole

I would've accepted 40 years or 50 years provided there was no chance of parole.

Nevermind my worry that the man will walk in a few years with "good behavior." I'm more worried about his sentence being reduced drastically like Lt. Calley of My Lai infamy.