GI sentenced over Baghdad killing
BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A U.S. soldier has been sentenced to three years in prison, forfeiture of all pay and a dishonorable discharge after he pleaded guilty to the killing of a severely wounded Iraqi civilian, the U.S. military said in a statement.
Staff Sgt. Johnny M. Horne Jr., 30, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, accepted a plea bargain Friday to one specification of murder and one specification of conspiracy to commit murder, the military said.
The convictions stemmed from Horne's killing on August 18 of the civilian in Baghdad's Sadr City, where fighting raged at the time between U.S. troops and militia loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
The killing took place in Baghdad's Sadr City, during widespread fighting.
The pleas occurred during a general court-martial on the Camp Al-Tahreer in Baghdad.
A panel of seven senior service members passed the sentence Friday at 11:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET), after hearing testimony from the prosecution and the defense.
They deliberated for approximately four hours before reaching their decision.
Horne is a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, Fort Riley, Kansas.