Bush Approves Execution of US Army Convict

Seen in this 1988 photo, U.S. Army Pvt. Ronald Gray has been on the military's death row for 20 years.

This story has been updated with a recent article:
US Army Schedules Date for Execution of Pvt. Ronald A. Gray (Nov. 20, 2008)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, July 28, 2008 -- Citing "brutal crimes," President Bush approved the Army's request to execute a soldier convicted of rape and murder, the White House announced Monday evening.

It was the first time a commander in chief has affirmed a military death sentence since 1957.

Pvt. Ronald Gray has been on the military's death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, since 1988. His execution would be the first for the U.S. military since 1961, but the White House said it expects further appeals before the sentence is carried out.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said in a statement on Monday evening:

"President Bush this morning accepted the recommendation of the Secretary of the Army to approve a sentence of death for Army Private Ronald A. Gray, affirming the sentence that resulted from a general court martial for multiple charges of murder and rape committed while serving as a member of the Armed Services. While approving a sentence of death for a member of our Armed Services is a serious and difficult decision for a Commander-in-Chief, the President believes the facts of this case leave no doubt that the sentence is just and warranted. Private Gray was convicted of committing brutal crimes, including two murders, an attempted murder, and three rapes. The victims included a civilian and two members of the Army. Because additional legal challenges are expected in this case, we will decline to comment further. The President’s thoughts and prayers are with the victims of these heinous crimes and their families and all others affected."

Under the military justice system, a member of the U.S. armed forces cannot be executed without presidential approval.

Gray was convicted of raping and killing a female Army private and a civilian near his post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was also convicted of the rape and attempted murder of another fellow soldier in her barracks at Fort Bragg.

Military courts have not yet set an execution date for Gray, who can still appeal through civilian federal courts. The Army also has sought Bush's authorization to execute another condemned soldier, Pvt. Dwight Loving, who was convicted of killing and robbing two cab drivers in 1988.

Gray was held responsible for the crimes committed between April 1986 and January 1987 in both the civilian and military justice systems, The Associated Press reported. Gray pleaded guilty to two murders and five rapes in a civilian court and was sentenced to three consecutive and five concurrent life terms, the AP said.

A general court-martial at the Army's Fort Bragg then tried him and in April 1988 the court martial convicted Gray of two murders, an attempted murder and three rapes. He was unanimously sentenced to death, according to AP.

Members of the U.S. military have been executed throughout history, but just 10 have been executed since 1951 under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the military's modern-day legal system, according to the Associated Press.

The last U.S. military execution was in 1961, when Army private John Bennett was hanged for raping and attempting to kill an 11-year-old Austrian girl.

(Article compiled from news media sources.)

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