Private admits some guilt in Iraq attack
A Ft. Campbell soldier accused of acting as a lookout while his colleagues attacked and killed a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and her family pleaded guilty to lesser offenses as his court-martial began on rape and murder charges.
Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice, arson, wrongfully touching a corpse, and drinking in the March 2006 attack on Abeer Kassem Hamza Janabi and her family. He still faces trial on more serious charges.
Under military law, a soldier present when a crime occurs can be found guilty if prosecutors can establish that the soldier had prior knowledge. Three other soldiers have pleaded guilty for their roles in the crimes and received sentences as long as 100 years in prison.
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