A former US soldier has pleaded not guilty to raping and murdering an Iraqi woman after allegedly gunning down three members of her family.
21-year-old Steven Green appeared in court in Louisville, Kentucky as his state-appointed lawyer entered the plea.
The former private with the 101st Airborne Division could face the death penalty if convicted over the latest alleged atrocities to taint the image of US soldiers in Iraq.
A military spokesperson indicated that further charges could emerge in the next week or two over the incident which occurred last March and which is still under investigation.
According to an affidavit filed along with the charges, Mr Green and three other soldiers were accused of breaking into a house near Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad, and killing everyone inside.
The court documents said one victim was a young girl aged around five, while the rape victim was about 25.
A grand jury will review the allegations later this month and if Mr Green is indicted, he is due to appear in court for an arraignment on 8 August.
Mr Green was honourably discharged from the US army this year with a personality disorder.
His case will be tried in civilian court as the military no longer has jurisdiction over him.
