U.S. soldier accused in Iraq killings reaches deal: lawyer

[alp227]

A U.S. soldier accused of shooting dead five fellow servicemen at a military counseling center in Iraq has struck a plea deal with Army prosecutors that would spare him from facing the death penalty, his lawyer said on Friday.

Army Sergeant John Russell is accused of going on a shooting frenzy at Camp Liberty, adjacent to the Baghdad airport, in a 2009 attack the military said at the time could have been triggered by combat stress.

"We have reached an agreement and both parties have entered into the agreement," his civilian attorney, James Culp, said.

He said Russell would plead guilty to five counts of intentional murder, one count of attempted murder, and one of assault at a hearing on Monday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

full: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/19/us-usa-iraq-courtmartial-idUSBRE93I0WP20130419

[Marrah_G]

1. This is what happens when we send these guys on multiple tours in a war zone

and deny mental health treatment and keep sending them back.