Soldier found guilty of murder in Iraq shootings

FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia soldier was found guilty today of killing his two Army roommates in 2010 at a U.S. base camp in Iraq, where prosecutors said he opened fire hours after complaining that the victims had let their room get too messy.

A court-martial found Spc. Neftaly Platero guilty of two counts of premeditated murder and one count of attempted premeditated murder after a weeklong trial. The verdict was reached by a five-member jury of Army officers and noncommissioned officers after 90 minutes of deliberations today.

The case moved directly to the sentencing phase. Platero faces life in prison with or without the possibility of parole. Fort Stewart commanders earlier decided not to pursue it as a death penalty case.

Prosecutors said 34-year-old Platero of Kingwood, Texas, opened fire on his roommates as they readied for bed at Camp Fallujah on Sept. 23, 2010. Pfc. Grebrah Noonan was fatally shot in the side and the back after having just returned to their room from a shower. Spc. John Carrillo Jr. was felled by the gunfire while rummaging through his backpack.