IRAQ GIRL THAT WAS RAPED AND MURDERED WAS 14 YEARS OLD
Randy L. Harrington
July 10, 2006
IRAQ—The Iraq girl allegedly raped and murdered by US Soldiers in March was only 14 years old. US military officials in Iraq name the 5 soldiers charged in the death of the family, as well as the death, and rape of the girl.
An Iraq Identity Card identified the young girl allegedly raped by US Soldiers as 14 year old Abeer Asimov Hamza whose date of birth was August 19, 1991 in Baghdad. Her death certificate was dated March 13, 2006, and was signed by Doctor Wael Habib, a United States trained medical doctor. The Death Certificate said that she was found dead at home by a relative on March 12. She had died from “gunshot wounds to the head, with burns” over 75% of her body.
Former Private First Class Steven Green, 21, who has since been discharged from the Army (for a “personality disorder”) was charged last week in a civil criminal court with the rape of the girl, as well as her murder, and the murder of her family. He was arrested by US Marshall's and pleaded “not guilty” in US District Court in Kentucky on July 6. It is unknown whether bail was set, or whether he was being held.
A US Army investigation identified 4 other US Soldiers from Green's unit that were directly involved, or were present at the time the rape, and murders happened. A fifth US Army Soldier was identified as being told about the incident, and he has been charged with dereliction of duty, and conspiracy after the fact. Green, and the original four if convicted could be executed for the murders.
It has been alleged that after the rape, and murders that the defendants tried to burn the bodies and the house to cover their tracks, and destroy any evidence.
On Monday, the military identified the US Soldiers that have been charged in the incident.
Private First Class Bryan Howard was charged with conspiracy to commit rape and premeditated murder under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, premeditated murder, and rape.
Specialist James Baker was charged with the same crimes as Howard, except that he was also charged with a violation of a general order for drinking alcohol in violation of a standing general order in Iraq, arson, and house breaking.
Sergeant Paul Cortez was also charged with the same offenses as Baker, and officials have also considered a dereliction of duty charge because he was the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer present when the criminal acts allegedly occurred.
Private First Class Jesse Speilman was also charged with the same offenses as Baker and Cortez, plus indecent acts (allegedly with a corpse), and obstruction of justice.
Subsequent to the rape, murders, and arson the others were drinking with Sergeant Anthony Yribe when they told him the whole story. The US Army has charged Sergeant Yribe with dereliction of duty for not reporting the others, and the crimes, and also with making a false official statement because when he was asked in an official investigation he made a statement denying that he was told anything, or that he knew anything.
It is alleged that Green and three others drank alcohol as they discussed raping Abeer on March 11 at their checkpoint. Shortly after the discussion two of the soldiers changed into dark civilian clothing. The four went off armed, leaving a fifth soldier behind manning the checkpoint, and the radio.
The four walked about 6 feet to the house. Green was the first to enter the home. He wore a t-shirt over his face. He seized the fathers AK-47 rifle. He and another soldier entered a room where the parents, and younger sibling of the girls were sleeping.
As another soldier threw Abeer to the floor and held her there. Green used the AK-47 rifle to shoot the parents and the younger child. The second soldier, and Green raped Abeer on the floor next to the other dead bodies. When the rape was completed Green shot her several times. The two other soldiers at the house say that there took no part in the rape and murders.
The soldiers before leaving set fire to Abeer's body, and the home.
US military officials became aware of the incident on June 23 when a soldier spoke about it during a counseling session that followed the kidnap and killing of two men from the 502nd Brigade near Mahmudiya.
Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has voiced his frustration over war crimes committed against the Iraqi people by US military personnel that he has asked for a review of their immunity under Iraq law.
This is the fifth case of serious crime being investigated against US military personnel since March. In all, 16 soldiers have been charged with murder in the past month. United States authorities point to the fact that this is a small minority of US military personnel that have committed these alleged atrocities.
The Prime Minister has replied and said that these are just the crimes that have been reported, and that the fact that it is such a small minority does not make it easier to tolerate. Maliki may ask that the matter be taken to the United Nations next month so that the US military personnel can be tried under Iraq law, or tried by a world court for war crimes that is independent from the United States.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: AP WIRE; REUTERS; ARMY JAG
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
An Iraq Identity Card identified the young girl allegedly raped by US Soldiers as 14 year old Abeer Asimov Hamza whose date of birth was August 19, 1991 in Baghdad. Her death certificate was dated March 13, 2006, and was signed by Doctor Wael Habib, a United States trained medical doctor. The Death Certificate said that she was found dead at home by a relative on March 12. She had died from “gunshot wounds to the head, with burns” over 75% of her body.
Former Private First Class Steven Green, 21, who has since been discharged from the Army (for a “personality disorder”) was charged last week in a civil criminal court with the rape of the girl, as well as her murder, and the murder of her family. He was arrested by US Marshall's and pleaded “not guilty” in US District Court in Kentucky on July 6. It is unknown whether bail was set, or whether he was being held.
A US Army investigation identified 4 other US Soldiers from Green's unit that were directly involved, or were present at the time the rape, and murders happened. A fifth US Army Soldier was identified as being told about the incident, and he has been charged with dereliction of duty, and conspiracy after the fact. Green, and the original four if convicted could be executed for the murders.
It has been alleged that after the rape, and murders that the defendants tried to burn the bodies and the house to cover their tracks, and destroy any evidence.
On Monday, the military identified the US Soldiers that have been charged in the incident.
Private First Class Bryan Howard was charged with conspiracy to commit rape and premeditated murder under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, premeditated murder, and rape.
Specialist James Baker was charged with the same crimes as Howard, except that he was also charged with a violation of a general order for drinking alcohol in violation of a standing general order in Iraq, arson, and house breaking.
Sergeant Paul Cortez was also charged with the same offenses as Baker, and officials have also considered a dereliction of duty charge because he was the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer present when the criminal acts allegedly occurred.
Private First Class Jesse Speilman was also charged with the same offenses as Baker and Cortez, plus indecent acts (allegedly with a corpse), and obstruction of justice.
Subsequent to the rape, murders, and arson the others were drinking with Sergeant Anthony Yribe when they told him the whole story. The US Army has charged Sergeant Yribe with dereliction of duty for not reporting the others, and the crimes, and also with making a false official statement because when he was asked in an official investigation he made a statement denying that he was told anything, or that he knew anything.
It is alleged that Green and three others drank alcohol as they discussed raping Abeer on March 11 at their checkpoint. Shortly after the discussion two of the soldiers changed into dark civilian clothing. The four went off armed, leaving a fifth soldier behind manning the checkpoint, and the radio.
The four walked about 6 feet to the house. Green was the first to enter the home. He wore a t-shirt over his face. He seized the fathers AK-47 rifle. He and another soldier entered a room where the parents, and younger sibling of the girls were sleeping.
As another soldier threw Abeer to the floor and held her there. Green used the AK-47 rifle to shoot the parents and the younger child. The second soldier, and Green raped Abeer on the floor next to the other dead bodies. When the rape was completed Green shot her several times. The two other soldiers at the house say that there took no part in the rape and murders.
The soldiers before leaving set fire to Abeer's body, and the home.
US military officials became aware of the incident on June 23 when a soldier spoke about it during a counseling session that followed the kidnap and killing of two men from the 502nd Brigade near Mahmudiya.
Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has voiced his frustration over war crimes committed against the Iraqi people by US military personnel that he has asked for a review of their immunity under Iraq law.
This is the fifth case of serious crime being investigated against US military personnel since March. In all, 16 soldiers have been charged with murder in the past month. United States authorities point to the fact that this is a small minority of US military personnel that have committed these alleged atrocities.
The Prime Minister has replied and said that these are just the crimes that have been reported, and that the fact that it is such a small minority does not make it easier to tolerate. Maliki may ask that the matter be taken to the United Nations next month so that the US military personnel can be tried under Iraq law, or tried by a world court for war crimes that is independent from the United States.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: AP WIRE; REUTERS; ARMY JAG
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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