Ex-soldier abandons insanity defense

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Ex-soldier abandons insanity defense
By Brett Barrouquere - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 15, 2009 12:49:56 EST

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A former 101st Airborne Division soldier no longer intends to use an insanity defense against charges that he raped and killed an Iraqi teenager and shot her family to death while on active duty in Iraq, his attorneys said in a court filing Thursday.

Attorneys for former Army Pfc. Steven Dale Green filed a notice with U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell saying mental health evidence will only be used to mitigate a possible death sentence.

The notice doesn’t give a reason, but it comes just days after federal prosecutors asked Russell to allow their mental health experts to examine Green.

Green’s attorneys filed notice in May that they planned to defend their client by arguing he was insane when an Iraqi teenager was raped and killed and her family slain in an attack, allegedly by him and four other soldiers.

Scott Wendelsdorf, one of Green’s public defenders, told Russell in December, “My whole defense is going to be not guilty by reason of insanity.”


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_ky_iraq_rape_011509w/%2e