Soldier Enters Pleas In Rape-Murder Case

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — A Fort Campbell soldier accused of acting as a lookout while his colleagues attacked and killed a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and her family last year pleaded guilty to some lesser offenses yesterday as his court-martial began on rape and murder charges. Private First Class Jesse Spielman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice, arson, wrongfully touching a corpse, and drinking.

He still faces trial on the more serious charges in the March 2006 rape and killing of Abeer Qassim al-Janabi and the death of 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.