A couple of rape cases that occurred months ago have now gone to trial.  Notice the difference in sentences between the two crimes.  The first involves a soldier from Camp Carroll that was tried in Korean court:

A U.S. soldier was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for raping a South Korean teenager.

The 8th U.S. Army identified him as Sgt. Singinn A. Lawson, a member of 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based at Camp Carroll.

Lawson had been held in pre-trial confinement in the Daegu Detention Facility since June 29, according to 8th Army officials.

Daegu District Court officials said the teen was walking home in October 2006, when the soldier chased her down, beat and raped her. They refused to release her age, but other South Korean media reported she was 19. [Stars & Stripes]

The second case was tried in US military court:

A 6th Ordnance Battalion soldier was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for raping a fellow soldier in January.

An all-male general court-martial panel also sentenced Spc. Darnell Gibson to a dishonorable discharge, reduction to the lowest rank of E-1 and forfeiture of all pay and allowances.

The panel deliberated for about three hours Wednesday night before finding Gibson guilty of rape and two specifications of indecent language. They found him not guilty of dereliction of duty and falsifying an official statement in connection with the rape. [...]

The woman testified she and Gibson went to three off-base bars to drink, dance and play pool that evening. According to court testimony, Gibson became so drunk he had to be carried back to Camp Carroll by the victim and one of his friends. Military police gave the three a ride back to the barracks because Gibson was too drunk to walk, according to testimony.

The woman testified she was worried that Gibson would choke on his own vomit if left alone, so she went to his room to check on him. Gibson invited her to watch a movie and she testified she either passed out or fell asleep on his bed.

She told the court that she awoke to Gibson raping her. She said he stopped and said, “I’m going to go get some of my boys.” [Stars & Stripes]

The 35th ADA soldier hunted down the Korean woman beat her and raped her and showed no remorse for his crime and received less time than the soldier who got involved in the typical drunken barracks rape.  This is a perfect example of the differences in justice in regards to rape in Korea.  At least the soldier in the Korean court case received a three year sentence, when Koreans rape foreigners and female soldiers they are usually allowed to go free. 

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