Army Sgt. Hasan Akbar in an undated photograph.
Posted on 03/30/2005 11:48:11 AM PST by TexKat
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - A soldier charged in a fatal grenade attack on two officers in Kuwait tried to overpower one of his military guards Wednesday, causing the postponement of a planned pretrial hearing.
Army Sgt. Hasan Akbar turned against one of his military police escorts at Fort Bragg's courts building around 7 a.m., two hours before the scheduled start of the hearing, the Army said in a statement.
"The MPs quickly regained control of Akbar," the statement said. "During the incident both Akbar and one of the MPs suffered injuries and received medical attention."
Further details on the incident were not immediately available.
Akbar, 33, is accused of stealing grenades from a Humvee and using them and a firearm in a March 2003 attack on fellow members of the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait, days after the start of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Army Capt. Christopher Seifert, 27, and Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone, 40, were killed; 14 other soldiers were injured.
If convicted of two counts of premeditated murder and three counts of attempted premeditated murder, Akbar could get the death penalty.
Akbar's lawyers plan to use an insanity or diminished capacity defense in his trial. They also have said Akbar has sleep apnea and has had problems staying awake at previous pretrial hearings.
The case marks the first time since the Vietnam War that a soldier has been prosecuted for the murder or attempted murder of another soldier during wartime.
The hearing scheduled for Wednesday has been rescheduled for Friday, post officials said. Jury selection will go on as scheduled April 6. Testimony in the court-martial, which is expected to last four weeks, is due to start April 11.
Army Sgt. Hasan Akbar in an undated photograph.
He deserves to be put to death by firing squad...
Akbar, Akbar, watcha gon do,watcha gon do, when da com fo you?
They should have just shot him on the spot.
Akbar alert ping!!
Speaking military courts. Have they ever found that marine who falsely claimed he was kidnapped by the insurgents in Iraq, turned up in lebannon, and then was brought back to America only to disappear on his Christmas leave?
"Akbar could get the death penalty."
Well, then, we know where to send him, don't we?
The 101st has been waiting a long time for this guy to receive justice.
Too close to an honest, honorable death. And too clean and quick. The Europeans on the Eastern marches facing the Turks knew what to do: Impale him!
Firing squad is too honorable. Hang 'im high.
Akbar's Death-Penalty Trial Scheduled To Start April 6
I still think that he deserves a HANO (high altitude no opening) jump.
Hang him.
Still missing.
Not to my knowledge.
If I had my druthers, I would put him in a 55 gallon drum, drop in a few White Phosphorous grenades, and slam the cover on tight.
But, this would not be acceptable.
He tried to overpower the guards...Let's hope that they SLAMMED HIS FACE INTO THE CONCRETE!!!!!!
Hasan Akbar
Soldier's defense fighting autopsy photos, diary in murder trial
Updated: 3/4/2005 3:14 PM
By: Brandi Davis & Web Staff
Lawyers for SGT Hasan Akbar are fighting to get certain evidence excluded from his court-martial.
The army sergeant from the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky is accused of killing two officers in a grenade attack during the opening days of the Iraq invasion.
On Friday, he made another appearance in court. This time his lawyers tried to block evidence the prosecution wants admitted.
Attorneys say certain autopsy photographs will prejudice the jury. One picture shows a victim wearing his combat boots with blood all over his body.
But prosecutors say the photographs show the reality of what happened....murder.
SGT Hasan Akbar is accused of killing two officers in a grenade attack during the opening days of the Iraq invasion.
Another big issue discussed during the hearing is whether or not excerpts from Akbar's diary should be admitted in court.
Prosecutors want several statements in the journal read to the jury. But some of those statements were written in the early 1990's, before Akbar enlisted.
Defense attorney's say those statements have no bearing on what happened in March of 2003. The judge must now decided if the autopsy pictures and the diary inserts will be allowed.
Jury selection starts the first week of April. Akbar, 33, could face the death penalty if convicted.
Akbar's civilian attorney has asked to be taken off the case because he has not been paid. Akbar is now left with two military attorneys.
Rocket scientist, isn't he....
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