Free Republic

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A US military hearing to determine whether to court martial a group of soldiers for the rape and murder of a teenage Iraqi girl and the slaughter of her family was set to wrap up proceedings. Specialist James Barker, Sergeant Paul Cortez and Privates Bryan Howard and Jesse Spielman have been accused of taking varying roles in a massacre in a town south of Baghdad on March 12. Private Steven Green, described by the defence as the ring-leader, has been charged with rape and murder and will stand trial in a civilian court in the US state...

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Frequent deadly attacks by insurgents sapped morale and raised combat stress in a U.S. Army unit that included soldiers accused of raping and murdering a 14-year-old Iraqi girl, a private testified at a military hearing Tuesday. Pfc. Justin Cross recounted the "mentally draining" living conditions of the unit in the third day of the hearing to determine if five U.S. soldiers will be court-martialed in the March 12 assault near Mahmoudiya. The girl's parents and sister were also slain. "It drives you nuts. You feel like every step you might get blown up. You just hit a...