U.S. President George W. Bush has approved the execution of a soldier, the first time in more than 50 years since a president refused to commute a death sentence for a member of the U.S. military.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Bush kept the death penalty in place for Ronald Gray, who was convicted by a military court in 1988 for two murders, an attempted murder and three rapes.
Gray, 42, had been sentenced to three life terms by a North Carolina court after pleading guilty to separate crimes of two murders and five rapes.
He was then tried by a military court and has been on death rowat Fort Leavenworth, Kansas since 1988.
"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," said White House press secretary Dana Perino.
"The president's thoughts and prayers are with the victims of these heinous crimes and their families and all others affected," she added.
Source:Xinhua
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