Soldier found guilty of rape, murder

[SeattleVet]

Source: Associated Press

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - A military jury on Friday found a soldier guilty of rape and murder in the slayings of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and her family.

Jurors deliberated much of Friday evening before convicting Army Pfc. Jesse Spielman, 22, of conspiracy to commit rape, rape, housebreaking with intent to commit rape and four counts of felony murder.

Spielman, of Chambersburg, Pa., was charged in connection with the March 12, 2006, slaying of the girl and the killings of her family. The attack took place in Mahmoudiya, a village about 20 miles south of Baghdad.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070804/ap_on_re_us/army_rape_slaying

[onewholaughsatfools]

1. as a vet i say

you send our boys into battle to kill and protect, this one crossed the line of course, having said that the people who sent this boy into battle are to blame for this. This time he as been given is totally insane, this soldier should be in an institution that will help him, not destroy him.

[achtung_circus]

2. The entire sub-unit

on duty decided that it would be a good idea to rape a girl and murder people to cover up the crimes.



I don't believe in the death penalty so a LOT of his life should be spent in prison.

This wasn't a frat prank gone bad.

[SeattleVet]

4. It was a whole group of them involved with the rape, murder, and

burning of the bodies in an attempt to cover it up. I don't think that a life sentence is too harsh.

But yes, they need to hold a lot of the higher-ups to some level of responsibility... all the way to the top of the chain of command, if necessary, for creating the situation where a group of soldiers who were supposed to be liberating and protecting the Iraqi people felt is was OK to do this to a 14 year old.

[Captain_Nemo]

6. Yes. We all know Bush has blood on his hands. But, this is horrific.

[Skittles]

7. just did not sound like a heat of battle crime

the evidence says it was planned

[bjobotts]

8. Even in the military..birds of a feather...

There may have been a war going on but this was pre meditated rape and murder, and these guys were criminals.
One thing I read though said that in Nazi Germany the Jews and gays had been so strongly portrayed as sub-human trash that shooting them meant less than shooting squirrels.
The same was true of the portrayal of Indians as savages and killing them was a duty since they were worse than wild animals.

Islamic/Muslim suicide trash, with death so common place and life so meaningless in Iraq that bodies are lying everywhere the view of them as live human beings and people with dignity and feelings is hard for some to maintain.
Still these people were scum to do this and there is no justification or explanation that takes away the horror. Even scum get to wear uniforms.

[Bluebear]

9. 'the people who sent this boy into battle are to blame for this' - Oh NO you didn't. nt

[bitchkitty]

10. A life sentence for the rape and murder of a child is insane?

I don't follow you.

[Bluebear]

13. I'm with you. nt

[UKProPeace]

12. If this gang of rapists were civilians

The book would be thrown at them, there are no excuses for what they did....I don't buy the "Bush is completely responsible" crap. These sick degenerates are responsible for their own crimes in this case it appears, and their victim deserves much more respect than to take away some of the blame from the people who committed those sick paedophile acts.

I'd be one of the first to say I can't stand the Bush regime, but in cases like this you have to lay the blame where it belongs, anything else I think would be attempting to lessen the crimes these rapists committed.

[LeftyMom]

14. A lot of other men have died

since this creep and his pals decided to let the whole country know that they couldn't trust the foreign invaders around their daughters.

The military should have given him to the locals.

[bluestateguy]

3. I believe this atrocity warrants the death penalty for the convicted

And all of you "abolitionists" can put that it your pipe and smoke it.

[Captain_Nemo]

5. They should serve life sentences - gang raping a teenage girl. I also think George W.

should have to step forth and say something about this atrocity - his "pro-life" heart and soul should stand up and say something.

[UKProPeace]

11. Good, and there should be no parole

Nice to hear that there will be a mandatory life sentence in this case. "People" like this are responsible for their own sick disgraceful actions....Absolutely no excuses, and please let's not have any apologists, a gang of soldiers committed grave indecent depraved acts of paedophilia against a 14 year old girl. They deserve life, and life should mean life.

[Ghost in the Machine]

15. 110-Year Sentence in Iraq Rape-Killing

Source: AP

110-Year Sentence in Iraq Rape-Killing
Published: 8/4/07, 7:25 PM EDT
By RYAN LENZ

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) - A soldier convicted of rape and murder in the death of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the slayings of her family was sentenced Saturday to 110 years in prison.

The sentence was part of a plea agreement attorneys for Pfc. Jesse Spielman had made with prosecutors that limited the number of years he could serve in prison, regardless of the jury's recommendation.

Spielman was convicted late Friday of rape, conspiracy to commit rape, housebreaking with intent to rape and four counts of felony murder.

Military prosecutors did not say Spielman took part in the rape or murders but alleged that he went to the house knowing what the others intended to do and served as a lookout.

Spielman, 23, of Chambersburg, Pa., received the longest sentence of four soldiers who have been convicted. Three other soldiers pleaded guilty under agreements with prosecutors for their roles in the assault and were given sentences ranging from five to 100 years.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information.



Read more: http://home.bellsouth.net/s/editorial.dll?pnum=1&bfromind=7406&eeid=5329467&_sitecat=1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=2&ck=&ch=ne&rg=blsadstrgt&_lid=332&_lnm=tg+ne+topnews&ck=&cntp=beta

[Turbineguy]

16. Yes, this war

is working out well for lots of people.:nuke:

[warrior1]

17. Only known photo of the young girl

[MasonJar]

18. That was one of the most cruel and despicable acts of cowardice

I can imagine. That precious little 4 year old sister and her 14 year old sister who was brutally raped and murdered along with her whole family. Bush is culpable that those two young girls are dead.

[uppityperson]

19. Good. Kick for Abeer, Hadeel, Fakhriya and Qassim. Waiting to see what happens with Green

I sincerely hope that Steven Green gets life without chance of parole. When he is tried.

[ck4829]

20. K&R for Abeer and her family

[Endangered Specie]

21. eligible for parole in 10? Keep the fucker rotting forever.

Is there a reason they didn't get death?

[still_one]

48. I suspect they will do the same thing they did with cally and mai lai

what in the hell do we stand for?

Our actions say much more then our empty words do

[tabasco]

22. What bothers me most about this despicable crime:

Almost an entire squad was involved.

Not a lone act by a single maniac.

Bush / Rumsfeld / Gates have really improved the quality of the military. :sarcasm:

A sad and shameful crime which tarnishes the entire military.

[evilkumquat]

30. This Was Nothing New

Bush / Rumsfeld / Gates have really improved the quality of the military.


Sadly, our military has committed atrocities in pretty much every war it has been in.

Never forget My Lai, yet one more excellent reason to never have a fucking war in the first place.

Evil Kumquat

[Sarah Ibarruri]

47. Exactly.

What about the fact that innocents are who generally get killed in wars? Children, women, innocent men who are not in the military. What of them? :(

[sanskritwarrior]

31. Wars have a way of bringing out the worst in people

no matter who is in charge, bad things happen to good people in war zones.......

[JI7]

34. those people who commit rape would probably do it even outside of a war zone

i guess one difference is that within a war zone it might be easier to get away with it and of course the potential victims are easier to target since they are pretty much helpless against armed soldiers.

[bluestateguy]

23. He should be sent to a medieval dungeon

Although, I'd prefer execution by hanging.

[Snot Hannity]

24. He would have gotten death sentence

if the victims were white Americans.

[AusTexDem]

25. You got that right.

Nancy Grace and the whole MSM would have been all over this case 24/7. The prosecution would have had no choice but to seek the death penalty for all involved. Because you know the American public always wants MORE blood.

[The Doctor.]

35. That would be far too kind.

[rainbow4321]

26. His sister: "I hate the government. You people put him (in Iraq) and now, this happened."

"This" happened because of your brother's perverted, criminal decision. Do I agree with the troops being over there, no. Are there 10's of thousands troops over there who seem to know right from wrong even though they were sent over there, yes. Your brother is not one of them.
If he had it in him to do it in Iraq, it was just a matter of time before he did it anywhere else.

[JI7]

32. totally agree, his decision to rape and murder was a personal perverted decision

fuck him and all the rest of the scumbags. hope they never get out of prison.

[sanskritwarrior]

27. I love it

DUers bitch when the military exonerates people DUers think are guilty......DUers bitch when people are convited of crimes in Iraq but not given a "stern enough" punishment, and now a despicable guy gets the book thrown at him and not one person here says "Good job Army prosecutors"...........

I'll say it, on behalf of Democratic Underground, I extend warm greetings and congratulations to the JAG Corps of the United States Army for putting a man in prison that shamed his military branch and his country. Good job guys and girls in uniform, you did your job well and we are proud of you.

[Ghost in the Machine]

29. You make a valid point, in a way...

The thing is, we expect the prosecuters to DO THEIR JOBS. It's not necessary to praise them over doing something that *should* have been done anyways. It's kinda like when your folks potty trained you. Yeah, they praised you when you were learning, but do you expect them to still watch you when you go and say "YAY! He's such a BIG boy! He went pee pee in the potty!!"...

But yeah, you're right... thanks JAG Corps, for giving some justice to Abeer and her family, may they rest in peace.

Thank you, too, for your service to the Country

PEACE!

Ghost

[Posteritatis]

37. Agreed - they've done good in this one. (nt)

[0007]

28. The main man!! junior & Green are both Midland Texas products

Steven D. Green

[Triana]

33. In addition to his sentence, castration would've been too good for this guy and his friends...

...I'm sorry but it would have. What they did was DESIPICABLE and INEXCUSABLE. I hope there's a acid bath in Hell for these creeps - every one of them.

[PoconoPragmatist]

36. Fuck That!!

Castration WITH A RUSTY RAZOR BLADE, AND NO ANESTHESIA!!

[GreenTea]

38. Who wont this administration allow to serve, just to add more bodies for their war for

PROFIT!??? How about violent felons? Would they go that far to keep things rolling right along for the hundreds of billions of our tax dollars they are stealing everyday? What do you think?

[yurbud]

39. how much of that will Bush, Cheney, & Rummy serve?

[subsuelo]

40. The correct punishment would have been

Disarm him completely, drop him off in a crowded Baghdad market, and leave him there.

[Turner Ashby]

41. The Prosecution's job

\i would wonder about the actual chances of getting parole out of a military prison. It is hard enough in a civilian prison. It is essentially a life sentence for failure to intervene. That is a great job by the prosecution.

[AwakeAtLast]

43. Welcome to DU!

And I totally agree.

This is a great site. Enjoy! :hi:

[elocs]

42. It's easy to be against the death penality,

except when it's something you don't like, right? Although this guy was the lookout, he is just as guilty as those who committed the crimes. He so far has gotten the longest sentence even though he is the only one who has taken responsibility for his actions. That should count for something. Now please go back and read the part where I say he is just as guilty of the crimes as the ones who committed them. They should all get the sentence he got. Being against the death penality is tough in this case (my own daughter was 15 last summer and you better believe that I could see her as the victim), but either you hold beliefs that are right or are not situational.

[onehandle]

44. Bush will pardon him. "The sentence is excessive."

Besides, he was only doing the Republican's Corporate God's work.

[Eugene]

45. Reuters: Jail term disappoints murdered Iraqi girl's family

Source: Reuters

Jail term disappoints murdered Iraqi girl's family
05 Aug 2007 11:56:00 GMT
Source: Reuters

KERBALA, Iraq Aug 5 (Reuters) - The family of a teenage
Iraqi girl gang raped and murdered by U.S. troops said on
Sunday they were disappointed that a soldier sentenced to
110 years in jail for the crime did not receive the death
penalty.

Private Jesse Spielman was found guilty of four counts of
murder, rape, conspiracy to commit rape, and housebreaking
with the intent to commit rape by a U.S. military court in
Kentucky on Saturday over the March 2006 attack.

Abeer Qassim al-Janabiat, her parents and younger sister
were shot dead in Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad. The crime
outraged Iraqis and significantly increased tensions with
U.S. forces in Iraq.

"We were expecting the death penalty against those
criminals and the place to carry out the sentence is where
the incident happened," Janabiat's cousin, Abu Ammar, told
Reuters.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAM547982.htm

[Sarah Ibarruri]

46. War is monstrous

There is always rape and murder of women and children in war. There is NEVER no rape of women and children in war.

[Imagevision]

49. 110 years paroled after serving 10 - about as American as apple pie as you can get, the

idiot chose sloppy seconds while watching the first fool kill the parents and the girl's sister while watching the rape begin.

[bluestateguy]

50. The he writes a book, which is bulk bought by conservative book clubs,

does the rounds on the RW talk shows, and accepts a position as a Fox News Contributor.