United States v. Thomas

*662OPINION OF THE COURT

FULTON, Senior Judge:

In a trial by general court-martial, the appellant was convicted of violating Article 120, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 920 (1976), by forcibly raping a service-woman in her barracks room. Following announcement of the findings of guilty, near the end of the second day of the trial, appellant made an unsworn statement to the court in extenuation and mitigation.

In the brief statement, made under questioning by counsel, appellant referred to a number of personal tragedies: His parents had died in an automobile accident when he was four…