Posted on 04/03/2005 5:49:25 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - An Army sergeant charged with killing two officers in a grenade attack in Kuwait two years ago is competent to stand trial, a military judge ruled Friday.
Sgt. Hasan Akbar, 33, is scheduled to undergo a court-martial this month in a March 2003 attack on fellow members of the 101st Airborne Division days after the start of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Akbar is accused of stealing grenades from a Humvee and using them and a gun in the attack.
The pretrial hearing was originally scheduled for Wednesday. But two hours before it was to begin, Akbar fought with one of his military guards and both needed medical attention, the Army said. The hearing was postponed to Friday afternoon.
That rescheduled hearing was delayed 1 1/2 hours, during which time a doctor who had been scheduled to testify went missing.
The session finally got under way at 7 p.m., with Akbar brought into the courtroom shackled at the legs and wrists and under close guard by a pair of military police officers.
The doctor did not testify, but the military judge overseeing the case, Col. Stephen Henley, said Akbar had been found competent and that he would accept that finding.
If convicted of two counts of premeditated murder and three counts of attempted premeditated murder, Akbar could get the death penalty.
Akbar has confessed several times to the attack and his lawyers plan to use an insanity or diminished capacity defense in his trial.
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 judge has said jury selection would take place next week and that testimony should start April 11.
How dare he do this and take his lil ol time.
Will follow this case closely and if you would like to be added to my ping list for the trial of this soldier just let me know.
Prayers go out to the wounded of that day, to the families who have loved one's. Justice is still justice even when it is years later. Unfair for sure.
Frankly the death penalty would be to good for this guy, but, I must say if the military does not seek the death penalty then we should just wipe that from the UCMJ, because this case cries our for this type of justice.
Jumping off of my soap box.
Angry PING
I only wish someone had shot him in the (censored) while he was making his cowardly attack.
fought with one of his military guards and both needed medical attention
Gee, I wonder who got the worst end of it.
He should be executed. His lawyers are a disgrace to our flag.
High treason ping
Don't get it.
Military Court Convicts U.S. Soldier For Iraqi Man's 'Mercy Killing' - Capt. Rogelio Maynulet
Maynulet enters not guilty plea in 'mercy killing' trial (maximum sentence of 20 years)
Trial set for captain accused of killing badly-injured Iraqi - Capt. Maynulet (murder vs mercy)
Sometimes, it seems a wee bit too bloodthirsty.
Happy to do so. Trying to refine my list so that folks who want pinged on all my military threads when posted.
Now I am working on ping list for certain stories.
Sadly, I think the worse this guy will get is life.
What was that all about?!?
IF this guy is guilty, I hope he fries...slowly.
Just need to soak that rope in pig fat first.
You may be right. We are currently stationed at Ft Leavenworth and frankly now that they have closed down the old barracks and built the new one -- well it is like living on a college campus. I know it is the times and they are changing and no one will have manual labor to build a prison stone by stone.
I am not even sure he will go to Leavenworth, they have moved the worst offenders on death row to other federal prison's. What the hey, they can just go 4 miles to the big house.
I bet that is more info then you wanted this eve?
Thanks for the comment.
Actually as my beloved was going down stairs he said he had read in the military early bird that do to the incident with the guards the case has now been extended. I think I must not have heard him because it appears what ever the problem the case goes forward.
I do hope he is given the punishment he so rightly deserves.
After the incident he had pronounced to all who would listen that he did it because of racial problems. In other words it is someone elses fault lets haul Jessie Jackson into the mix.
While I have to believe that your comment is in good faith, there is NO reason to bring up the Terri issue on yet again another thread that is obviously is in no way related. Please consider before posting, there are some who would like to discuss the article as it is offered in the thread.
Meanwhile, other bases have unrepaired damage from hurricanes, etc. I don't have a problem with suspects being housed decently, but the convicted shouldn't receive better lodging than the hardworking folks living in tents in the desert.
Absolutely right. The thing about this trial that totally blew me away (no pun intended) was that the Major who prosecuted the case was actually quoted as saying that the Captain never radioed his chain of command for guidance or permission to do this. Huh? The guy was a Company Commander! If he needs to call his chain of command for something this minor, then why do we need Company Commaders? What does that Major know about anything other than what goes on in his air conditioned office? Put that Major on just a regular routine patrol through the Sunni Triangle and see how confused and frazzled he gets. Where do these people get off?
I would like to be by this Major's side in a firefight and just keep speaking into his ear, "make sure you don't hit any civilians; make sure you know what you're shooting at; don't make any rash judgments." What a fricken moron.
Also, the nitwit who saw this incident and reported it should be beaten with sticks.
Other than that, I have no strong feelings on this subject.
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