Some charges dropped against soldier accused of lobbing grenades into tent

[thedrifter]

Some charges dropped against soldier accused of lobbing grenades into tent
Air Force major, Army captain died in fragging incident in Kuwait

By Matthew Cox
Times staff writer



The Army has dropped more than a dozen charges against Sgt. Hasan K. Akbar in connection with the March 23 fragging incident in Kuwait that left two soldiers dead and 14 others wounded, officials from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Ky., released Wednesday.
Fourteen of the 17 specifications of attempted murder against Akbar were dismissed May 22 along with one count of aggravated arson of an inhabited dwelling and one specification of misbehavior as a sentinel while receiving special pay.

Akbar, of the 326th Engineer Battalion, still faces two specifications of premeditated murder and three specifications of attempted murder, said Master Sgt. Kelly Tyler, a spokeswoman for the 101st, who explained that it?s not uncommon for changes like this to occur.

?It will enable them to focus the investigation on the more serious charges,? she said, adding that that the 14 old counts of attempted murder were likely dropped because the injuries were not serious enough to justify such a charge.

A military judge has been appointed to investigate the charges for an Article 32 hearing.

As the special court martial convening authority, Akbar?s battalion commander ordered that an Article 32 hearing be conducted, said Lt. Col. Gerald Wuetcher of the 101st?s Judge Advocate General?s office.

Investigators from the Criminal Investigation Command and from other law enforcement agencies have been investigating various aspects of the March 22, 2003, , Wuetcher said Friday. That work continues.

Soldiers who were present at or near Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait, at the time of the attack have been interviewed, he said, as well as those who may have some knowledge regarding the matters in the recently preferred charges.

Fort Campbell officials said they did not know the location or the time of the hearing, but expect it will take place sometime in June, Tyler said.




Sempers,

Roger