Ex-U.S. soldier pleads innocent in Iraq rape, murder

[NNN0LHI]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-11-08T171015Z_01_N08268404_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-SOLDIER.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C1-topNews-9

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - A former U.S. soldier pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in federal court to charges he participated in a gang rape of an Iraqi girl and murdered her and her family in March.

If convicted, Steven Green, 21, faces a minimum of life in prison and could be sentenced to death, prosecutors said in court.

Green and four other soldiers who are still in the Army are accused of sexually abusing the 14-year-old girl, then killing her, her father, mother and 6-year-old sister. Green is accused of obstruction of justice for trying to burn the bodies to conceal the crime.

The others face potential death sentences in military trials. A fifth soldier is charged with trying to cover up the March 12 incident in Mahmudiya, Iraq.