Soldier may face murder charge in Afghan death

[unhappycamper]

Source: Army Times / Associated Press

Soldier may face murder charge in Afghan death
By Kevin Maurer - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Aug 6, 2008 6:28:07 EDT

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Army prosecutors said Tuesday they plan to seek a murder charge against a Special Forces soldier accused of killing and mutilating the body of a civilian in southern Afghanistan.

Officials at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command said prosecutors believe Master Sgt. Joseph D. Newell killed a resident of Hyderabad, a village in the country’s Helmand province, on March 5. He is also accused of cutting off the man’s ear, larceny and violating a lawful order.

Officials would not provide any additional detail about the larceny or order violation charges. If charged and convicted, he faces life without parole.

Newell, who was a team sergeant assigned to the Fort Bragg-based 3rd Special Forces Group, faces an Article 32 hearing, which is similar to a civilian grand jury. The August 12 hearing will determine whether he will be court-martialed on the charges. The hearing is not used to decide guilt, only whether there’s enough evidence to hold a trial.

Read more: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_soldier_murdercharges_080508/

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In case above link does not work --> http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_soldier_murdercharges_080508/

[gratuitous]

1. Yeah, murder charge . . . that could happen

Right.