Two soldiers in South Korea appeal rape attempt convictions

[unhappycamper]

Two soldiers in South Korea appeal rape attempt convictions
By Jimmy Norris and Hwang Hae-rym, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, December 20, 2007

SEOUL — Appeals in the case of two U.S. soldiers convicted in July of attempting to rape an off-duty police officer were heard Tuesday in Seoul District Court.

Sgt. Anthony Basel, wearing his military dress uniform and a full, unkempt beard, had been sentenced to 3½ years for his part in the attack. He is seeking a sentence reduction.

His attorney, Jin Hyo-geun, offered the court the results of a mental health evaluation that he said showed Basel is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism following an Iraq deployment.

Jin told Stars and Stripes after the brief hearing that he hopes the court reduces Basel’s sentence, but still worries that his client has been unable to reach a financial settlement with the woman he was convicted of attacking. The woman has refused to accept any financial settlement from the soldier because she’s a policewoman.

Jin said Basel’s mother raised $10,000 to pay the woman.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51118