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US soldier pleads guilty to rape

November 16, 2006

One of four US soldiers facing trial for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and her family pleaded guilty to charges connected to the case, military officials said on Wednesday.

Army officials did not specify what charges James Barker had admitted, but he has provided military prosecutors with a detailed account of the quadruple murder which took place in March in Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad.

Barker may now testify against his co-accused, two of whom face the death penalty along with the ringleader of the group Steven Green, who is being prosecuted in civilian courts.

Five soldiers, who all belonged to the prestigious 101st Airborne division, are alleged to have broken into a house near Mamudiyah on March 12 and raped the 14-year-old girl, then killed her and set fire to her body.

They allegedly killed the girl's mother, father, and six-year-old sister who were in another room.

Green was dishonorably discharged from the army in May with a "personality disorder" and was arrested by the FBI on June 30.

He appeared at a court in Louisville Kentucky on November 2 to face rape and murder charges and faces the death penalty if convicted.

The three other soldiers in the case have yet to enter pleas.

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