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.