Quote: Originally posted by DirtyDick@Jan 16 2005, 10:06 AM
Was rape a capital offence during this period? I'm not too sure it was in UK civil law, but perhaps US military law when on operations?
There was also that serial murdering RAF chap who was caught after leaving his respirator at the scene of a crime.
Richard
| Yes, rape was a hanging offense in the US Army. Nearly all of the offenses for which American troops drew the death penalty were crimes that would draw serious penalties under civilian law, like murder. However, the Army regarded rape as a hanging offense, probably because of its damaging impact on the Army's reputation as a liberating force. Rape and murder drew the rope rather than the firing squad to add to the dishonor and ignominy of the manner of execution. The firing squad was reserved for military offenses like desertion and mutiny. While I know about the Eddie Slovik case, I don't know if other GIs were shot for other offenses. Slovik was the only American shot for desertion since the Civil War, and his case became a celebrated book and TV movie.
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