JURIST - Paper Chase: Ex-US soldier may raise insanity defense in Mahmudiya rape-murder case

[JURIST] Former US Army Pfc. Steven D. Green [JURIST news archive] may raise an insanity defense at his scheduled 2009 civilian trial [JURIST report] for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl [JURIST news archive] and the murder of her family in Mahmudiya (also "Mahmoudiya"), according to two motions filed Thursday. Green's lawyers said they may raise the defense both at trial and at sentencing. They have previously argued that he should be tried under the military system because the alleged acts occurred while Green was enlisted. Green was honorably discharged pursuant to a psychiatric disorder diagnosis [JURIST report] made after the Army learned of the Mahmudiya incident. AP has more.

Four soldiers [JURIST report] from the 101st Airborne Division have already been convicted in military court for crimes stemming from the Mahmudiya incident. Spc. James P. Barker and Sgt. Paul E. Cortez [JURIST reports] received prison sentences of 90 and 100 years respectively after they pleaded guilty to participating in the attack. Pfc. Bryan L. Howard, who stayed at the soldiers' checkpoint but had prior knowledge of the plan, was sentenced to 27 months after pleading guilty [JURIST report] in March to conspiracy to commit rape and premeditated murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Pfc. Jesse Spielman was sentenced to 110 years in prison after being convicted [JURIST report] on four counts of felony murder, rape, conspiracy to commit rape, and housebreaking with intent to commit rape. All four will be eligible for parole in 10 years.

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