US soldier gets 35 years in deaths of 4 Iraqis

[Ghost in the Machine]

US soldier gets 35 years in deaths of 4 Iraqis
Published: 3/30/09, 11:25 AM EDT
By GEORGE FREY

VILSECK, Germany (AP) - A second U.S. soldier was convicted Monday of murder in the execution-style slayings of four bound and blindfolded Iraqi detainees in 2007 and sentenced to 35 years in prison after he pleaded guilty at his court-martial.

Wearing his dress uniform and speaking crispy and confidently, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Mayo of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to charges of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit premeditated murder at the proceeding at the U.S. Army's Rose Barracks in southern Germany.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge of obstruction of justice in the incident, which occurred while he was deployed to Iraq. Military prosecutors dropped that charge.

The 27-year-old was sentenced to 35 years in prison and will be incarcerated at the military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He will also be dishonorably discharged. His lawyer, Michael Waddington, said Mayo would be eligible for parole in about 10 years.

http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?bfromind=7812&eeid=6478298&_sitecat=1505&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=1&ck=&ch=ne

[NeedleCast]

1. About 35 years to few

IMO. How do you committ a mass murder and only get a 35 year sentance?

Prison. Life. No Parole.

[gratuitous]

3. He was probably really, really scared

And because he was wearing a military uniform when he popped those people in the back of the head, it's very, very excusable. As long as those sitting in judgment of him also happen to be wearing military uniforms.

Besides, it's not like he'll have to serve all 35 years. He should be out in plenty of time to vote for president in the 2020 elections if he's a good boy.

I can't help but wonder, however, what the sentence might be had this young man been judged by a jury constituted of the people he committed his crime against. But that's a quibble; we've now completely cleansed the military of all the bad uns, and there's no need to look up the chain of command for any further culpability.

[Jkid]

2. Now that's justice!

Also, K&R.