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American Soldier in Iraq Sentenced to 100 Years for Rape and Murder

A US soldier was sentenced to 100 year imprisonment, after he admitted to taking part in a group raping of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl, after which he killed her and three of her family members, last year. Three other soldiers were already prosecuted in this terrible affair. The military tribunal also decided that the 24-year-old Paul Cortez will be discharged and lowered in rank. Yet, he will be able to ask for his sentence to be shortened in ten years. Cortez admitted last week to 4 murder charges, rape, and conspiracy to commit rape, in one of the most serious incidents uncovered in the US military in Iraq.

In accordance with the plea-bargain, which evidently saved his life, Cortez told the court in detail how he and three other members of his unit planed to rape Abeer Qassim al-Janabi, The girl, whose parents and sister were murdered. During the hearings Cortez expressed remorse and cried. He found it hard to explain. "I don`t know why. I wish I hadn`t. The lives of four innocent people were taken. I want to apologize for all of the pain and suffering I have caused the al-Janabi family," he said.

Up to now, 3 soldiers were prosecuted in relation to the rape and murder of the 14-year-ol girl and the murder of her family members: Private First Class Jesse Spielman, Specialist Barker and Steven Green. Barker testified against his friends and was sentenced to a 90 year prison sentence.