Die motherfucker DIE!!
August 24, 2004
Accused fragger preparing insanity defense
By Estes Thompson
Associated Press
FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A soldier charged with killing two officers in a grenade attack as the war with Iraq unfolded will get more time to prepare an insanity defense, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Sgt. Hasan Akbar, 33, is charged in a March 23, 2003, grenade attack that killed two officers and wounded 14 members of the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait, on the eve of the invasion of Iraq. He was assigned to an engineer unit.
A new trial date of Feb. 15 was set by the judge, Col. Stephen Henley, after defense lawyers said their psychiatric expert and an expert studying Akbar’s family wouldn’t be ready until March 7.
Henley noted that the defense case, which comes after jury selection and presentation of government evidence, probably wouldn’t have to begin until March.
Defense attorney Wazir Al-Haqq said a psychiatrist has determined “there was evidence of mental illness,” but the type hasn’t been determined.
Akbar faces the death penalty if he is convicted of two counts of premeditated murder in the deaths of Army Capt. Christopher Scott Seifert, 27, of Easton, Pa., and Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone, 40, of Boise, Idaho. Akbar also is charged with three counts of attempted murder.
Al-Haqq said a cultural anthropologist, Scharlette Holdman of Oakland, Calif., will study Akbar’s background as far back as his elementary school days in south-central Los Angeles.
“It goes into the roots of his life,” the civilian lawyer said.
Psychiatrist Dr. George Woods will delve into Akbar’s mental history.
The defense has tried before to delay the trial date, but a different judge denied the request.
Prosecutors said they were concerned about delaying the court-martial past the anticipated Oct. 25 date because many members of the military jury would be deployed to Iraq with the headquarters units of the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg. The defense said a new panel can be appointed.
Before the hearing adjourned, Akbar entered a not guilty plea to the charges and said he wanted to be tried by a jury of enlisted soldiers and officers.
Al-Haqq also said Akbar has been getting sleep lately because he military doctors have gotten him treatment for sleep apnea. In the past, Akbar has fallen asleep or appeared to do so during hearings.
“Today was the first time I’ve seen some gleam in his eye,” Al-Haqq said.
http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-319441.php