Army Details Rape-Slaying of Iraqi Girl

In this file photo provided by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, Steven D. Green is shown in A booking mug shot at the Mecklenburg County jail in Charlotte, N.C., July 3, 2006. Green, a former Army Pfc., faces charges in an Iraq murder-rape case. (AP Photo/Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, File) (AP)

Cortez pushed the girl to the floor, lifted her dress and tore off her underwear while she struggled, Bierce said, citing Barker's statement. Cortez appeared to rape her, then Barker tried to rape the girl, according to the statement.

Suddenly, the group heard gunshots, and Green came out of the bedroom holding an AK-47 rifle and declared: '"They're all dead. I just killed them,"' according to the statement.

Green then raped the girl while Cortez held her down, Barker's statement said. Green picked up the AK-47 and shot the girl once, paused, then shot her several more times, Bierce said, quoting Barker's statement.

Barker said he poured fuel from a kerosene lamp on the girl's body but did not say who set it on fire. The soldier's statement did not say whether Howard or Spielman participated in the rape, Bierce said.

Another investigator, Gary Griesmyer, quoted Cortez as telling him that the teenage girl was weeping and speaking in Arabic and that Barker told her to "shut up."

Also Monday, another soldier, Pfc. Justin Watt, testified that Howard told him before the incident that Green, Cortez and Barker had planned to rape a girl, and Howard was to be the lookout.

"There's nothing I've read that says what to do if your buddies have raped and murdered a family," Watt said.

Another investigator, Michael Hood, told the hearing he interviewed Spielman, who denied shooting or having sex with anyone in the house. Spielman was given a lie-detector test and passed, Hood said.

Since the case became public last month, U.S. officials have said they were concerned it could strain relations with Iraq's new government if Iraqis perceive that the soldiers receive lenient treatment.

They have offered assurances the case will be pursued vigorously and that the soldiers will be punished if convicted.

The case already has increased demands for changes in an agreement that exempts U.S. soldiers from prosecution in Iraqi courts, and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has demanded an independent investigation.