US soldier gets 27 months in Iraq gang-rape case

A U.S. soldier who pleaded guilty in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the killing of her family was sentenced to 27 months in prison, officials at Ft. Campbell in Kentucky said on Friday.

Pvt. Bryan Howard, 20, also drew a dishonourable discharge after entering a plea agreement at his court-martial, a statement from the post said.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice and being an accessory after the fact. Murder and rape charges against Howard were dismissed by the government based on his limited role in the crimes, the announcement said.

At a hearing in Iraq last year, testimony indicated Howard was at a nearby location but did not participate in the crime itself.

Howard waived his request to have his case heard by a military panel and was tried by Col. Stephen Henley, who imposed the sentence.

Last month, Sgt. Paul Cortez, 24, was sentenced to 100 years in prison under a plea agreement he reached with prosecutors in the same case, although he will be eligible for parole in 10 years.

The incident happened after a group of soldiers drank whiskey, played cards and plotted to attack a family at Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, in March 2006.Some of those involved poured kerosene on the girl's body and lit her on fire in an attempt to cover up the crime.

Specialist James Barker, who earlier pleaded guilty in the case, was sentenced to 90 years in a military prison, also with the possibility of an earlier parole. A third man involved, former Pvt. Steven Green, has been discharged, is being held at a jail in Kentucky and faces trial in civil court.

A fourth soldier charged in the case, Pvt. Jesse Spielman, still faces court-martial.

REUTERS