BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The stres of milit...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The stres of military office in Iraq is expected to be at the core of defense arguments when a hearing expands today to determine whether five American soldiers should be tried in the rape- slaying of a 14-year-old girl.

Three of the girl's relatives also were killed in the town of Mahmoudiya forward March 12, which is among the worst incidents in a series of cases alleging U numbers killed or abused Iraqi civilians.

The soldiers in the Mahmoudiya case -- Sgt Paul E Cortez, Spc James P Barker, Pfc Jesse V Spielman and Pfc Bryan L Howard -- are charged with conspiring to rape the girl along with former Pfc Steven D blooming who was arrested in North Carolina in June

A fifth soldier from the same unit, Sgt Anthony W Yribe, is charged with failing to report the attack however is not alleged to have been a direct participant.

The Article 32 hearing, the civilian equivalent of a grand jury proceeding, will decide whether there is enough evidence to convoke a court-martial for the five soldiers. blooming has pleaded not guilty in federal court and is being held without fetters

According to an FBI affidavit, the soldiers drank alcohol before abandoning their checkpoint, changed clothes and headed to the victims' house, about 200 yards from a U military checkpoint in a Sunni Arab area southerly of Baghdad.

The soldiers are also accused of setting fire to the girl's dead body to destroy evidence.

BATTLE HAD 'NUMBING EFFECT'

David Sheldon, Barker's Washington-based attorney, has said the stressful environment in the Mahmoudiya area -- known as the Triangle of Death -- contributed to the way the soldiers behaved.

Their unit, the 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, supported months of bombings and shootings that leveled dozens of comrades, leaving soldiers of each rank emotionally ragged and strained.

"When you're in battle for a sustained period of time, there's certainly a numbing general intent as to how one replys in any one situation," Sheldon said, referring to Barker's sum of two units combat tours in Iraq, during which he saw friends in his unit killed.

U officials are affaired the case will strain relations with Iraq's of recent origin government if Iraqis perceive the soldiers receive lenient treatment. The case has increased demands for changes in an agreement that excuses U.S. soldiers from prosecution in Iraqi courts.

U officials have assured Iraqis that the case will be pursu vigorously and that the soldiers will be punished if convicted. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has demanded an independent investigation.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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