A U.S. soldier pled guilty on Monday to charges related to the 2006 rape and murder of an Iraqi teenager. Private First Class Jesse Spielman pled guilty to lesser charges including conspiracy to obstruct justice and arson at a hearing late Monday, at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. This case comes from the attack and murder of 14- year old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi and her family in their home in Mahmoudiya, a village 30 km south of Baghdad. Speilman still faces trial on more serious charges. Two other soldiers involved in the case have told investigators that Spielman knew of the plan to attack the girl and her family. Under military law, a soldier present when a crime occurs can be found guilty if prosecutors can establish that the soldier had prior knowledge. Defense attorneys are arguing that Spielman had no prior knowledge. The three other soldiers involved in the case have pled guilty for their roles in the crimes and received sentences as long as 100 years. Two of the soldiers involved in the case have already been convicted and sentenced-- Specialist James Barker to 90 years and Sergeant Paul Cortez to 100 years. A third soldier, Stephen Green, has already been discharged from the Army and faces charges in federal court.
