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Soldier pleads guilty to rape, deaths in Iraq

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published November 16, 2006

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - One of four U.S. soldiers accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl last spring and killing her and her family pleaded guilty Wednesday and agreed to testify against the others.

Spc. James P. Barker agreed to the plea deal to avoid the death penalty, said his civilian attorney, David Sheldon. The plea agreement calls for Barker to serve life in prison, and the judge will decide today whether Barker should be allowed to seek parole.

The military judge presiding over the case, Lt. Col. Richard Anderson, asked Barker why he participated in the attack in Mahmoudiya. It was among the worst in a series of alleged attacks on civilians and other abuses by military personnel in Iraq.

"I hated Iraqis, your honor," Barker answered. "They can smile at you, then shoot you in your face without even thinking about it."

Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24; Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, 22; and Pfc. Bryan L. Howard, 19, also are charged. Cortez deferred entering a plea Wednesday, Spielman will be arraigned in December, and Howard deferred entering a plea in October.

A fifth person, former Army private Steve Green, 21, pleaded not guilty last week to civilian charges including murder and sexual assault.

After entering his plea Wednesday, Barker gave a vivid account of the events.

Barker said he and the others were drinking while they manned a traffic checkpoint. Green brought up the idea of raping the girl and killing her family, he said.

Barker said he, Green and Cortez raped the girl, and Green killed the girl, her parents and her 6-year-old sister.

Barker said Spielman and Howard were at the house at the time and had come knowing what the others intended to do.

[Last modified November 16, 2006, 00:47:15]