Slain soldier's family upset Army won't seek death sentence

FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP) - The Army's decision not to seek the death penalty against a Georgia-based soldier charged with fatally shooting two men in his unit, one from Connecticut, and wounding another in Iraq last year has angered the family of one victim.

Spc. Neftaly Platero of Kingwood, Texas, made his first court appearance Monday at Fort Stewart. He faces charges of premeditated murder in the slayings last fall of 26-year-old Pfc. Gebrah Noonan of Watertown, Conn., and 20-year-old Spc. John Carrillo Jr. of Stockton, Calif.

Noonan's father, William Noonan, said after the hearing his family doesn't understand why Fort Stewart's commanding general opted not to seek the death penalty against Platero.

Spokesman Kevin Larson says Maj. Gen. Robert Abrams made that decision last week after weighing all the evidence and talking with the victims' families.