Being All They Can Be, Part II

Just another boy's day out? Testimony on the March 12 rape/murder that Spc. James Barker, Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, Pfc. Bryan L. Howard, and of course former Pfc. Steven D. Green are charged with.

Criminal investigator Benjamin Bierce testified at a hearing of his interview with Barker about what occurred. This comes from the AP article published here on CNN. Be forewarned, it is NOT easy reading.

According to Barker's sworn statement cited by Bierce, Green not only raped the female, but also shot her and her family members after telling his comrades repeatedly that he wanted to kill some Iraqis.

Bierce testified that on the day of the attack, Barker, Cortez, Spielman and Green had been playing cards and drinking Iraqi whiskey mixed with an energy drink. Afterward, they practiced hitting golf balls, Bierce quoted Barker as saying in his statement.

Bierce said Barker's statement made it clear that Green was very persistent about killing some Iraqis and kept bringing up the idea. At some point they decided to go to the house of the alleged victim, whom they had seen passing by their checkpoint earlier.

According to Bierce, Barker told him that when they arrived at the house, the father and the female were outside the house. Spielman grabbed her while Green seized her father and took them into the house with, Bierce said, quoting Barker. Cortez and Barker also went in.

Green took the father, mother and the younger sister into the bedroom and closed the door, while the alleged victim remained in the living room with the others.

Barker wrote that Cortez pushed the female to the floor, lifted her dress and tore off her underwear while she struggled, Bierce said. Cortez apparently raped her or appeared to rape her, according to Barker's statement, Bierce said.

Barker then tried to rape the female, Bierce said. Suddenly, the group heard gunshots. Green came out of the bedroom holding an AK-47 rifle and declared: '"They're all dead. I just killed them,"' Bierce said, quoting Barker's statement.

Green put the gun down, then raped her while Cortez held her down; Barker claims Green picked up the AK-47 and shot her once, paused, then shot her several more times, Bierce said.

Barker confirms he got a kerosene lamp and poured the fuel on her, Bierce said. The body was set on fire, but Barker does not say who did it. Barker's statement also does not say if Howard or Spielman participated in the alleged rape.

Barker's statement says he grilled chicken wings once they got back to their checkpoint, Bierce testified. A few hours later, Barker wrote, Iraqi army soldiers came to report they had found a family murdered.