An Iraq war veteran who was recently discharged from the Army has been charged in a gruesome March 12 attack in Iraq in which American soldiers allegedly raped a young Iraqi girl and then killed her and her family.
Steven Green was placed under arrest in North Carolina according to military officials. Up to five soldiers are under investigation resulting from the incident which took place in the village of Mahmoudiya.
Green, who until recently held the rank of private, first class, appeared before a federal magistrate in a Charlotte, North Carolina federal court on Monday.
The exact reasons for Green's discharge from the Army were not being released to the press at this time although reports indicate he had a 'personality disorder.'
The incident allegedly took place shortly after two American soldiers belonging to the same unit as the suspects were kidnapped and killed by insurgents in Iraq. There have been unconfirmed reports that the Americans were tortured and beheaded.
One soldier has already been arrested after admitting his alleged role in the attack on the girl's family according to published reports. He described the rape and murder as a 'crime of opportunity' and said the soldiers noticed the woman while walking on patrol.
According to an affidavit filed in court by the FBI, Green was the one who pulled the trigger and shot the three family members of the girl. The affidavit says Green took three family members into a bedroom and shots rang out.
'Green came to the bedroom door and told everyone, 'I just killed them. All are dead,'' the affidavit said.
The affidavit also says Green shot the woman who had been raped by the soldiers. 'After the rape, (the soldier) witnessed Green shoot the woman in the head two to three times,' the affidavit said.
Green is being tried in federal court because he has already been discharged from the Army. If convicted of murder, he could face the death penalty.
