News / Politics
U.S. Soldier Convicted of Rape, Murder Sentenced to 90 Years
James Barker learned his fate for conspiring to rape and kill a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and then kill her family. Lieutenant Colonel Richard Anderson presided over the case at a military court in Kentucky and handed down a life sentence to the 23-year-old soldier.
Barker had pled guilty to the crime and agreed to provide evidence that implicated three other soldiers in the rape and murders.
At the sentencing, Barker was told by Lieutenant Colonel Richard Anderson “This court sentences you to be confined for the length of your natural life, with the eligibility of parole.”
Barker must serve 20 years before of his sentence before he could be considered for parole. It was Barker’s guilty plea and agreement to provide information about the other three soldier’s involvement in the crime that spared him the death penalty.
The rape and murders were committed on March 12 of this year after the four soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division had planned the attack during a long night of heavy drinking.
