Vet Jailed for Role in Soldier's Death

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Vet Jailed for Role in Soldier's Death
November 25, 2008
The Gazette, Colorado Springs,Colo.

An Iraq war veteran was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday for his role in the murder of a fellow soldier last year.

In an emotional morning of testimony, Kenneth Eastridge, 24, apologized to the family of Spc. Kevin Shields, who was shot to death Dec. 1, his 24th birthday.

"I do not have the right to ask for forgiveness. I just pray one day everyone knows I truly am sorry," said Eastridge tearfully, reading a statement in court.

Prosecutors say Eastridge was riding in the back seat of a car on a night of heavy drinking, along with Shields and two other former soldiers, Bruce Bastien and Louis Bressler. Bastien has pleaded guilty to accessory to murder, and will serve 60 years in prison. Bastien and Bressler are also accused of killing another soldier, Pfc. Robert James, 24. Eastridge was in Iraq when James was robbed and killed Aug. 4, 2007.

Bastien and Eastridge will testify against Bressler, who prosecutors say shot Shields after a drunken brawl because he knew too much about the trio's robbery plans.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/vet-jailed-for-role-in-soldiers-death.html?col=1186032310810