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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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August 15th,
2008 - Soldier from Edmond to Fight Murder Charges |
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Soldier from
Edmond to Fight Murder Charges By the Associated Press August 15, 2008 Oklahoma City - An Edmond
native who is serving in Iraq will fight charges of premeditated murder, his
attorney said. U.S. Army 1st Lt. Michael C.
Behenna is charged in the shooting death of Ali Mansur Mohamed, an Iraqi
detainee who was thought to have been released from military custody on May
16. The details of Mohamed's
arrest haven't been released, but Jack Zimmerman, Behenna's lawyer, on
Thursday called the man a suspected terrorist. Zimmerman's Houston law firm
has been retained to represent Behenna, who is the son of a federal
prosecutor in Oklahoma City and a retired Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation agent. His mother, Vicki Behenna,
helped convict Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, and his father, Scott
Behenna, was part of the investigation that led to criminal charges against
former Gov. David Walters. "Michael comes from
parents who have devoted their professional life to public service, and he is
an Army officer protecting us all," Zimmerman said. "We will ensure
that the system works and the truth is found." The soldier's family has
declined to comment on the case. Behenna was charged July 31
with premeditated murder, assault, making a false official statement and obstruction
of justice. The murder charge carries an automatic life sentence if he is
convicted. Another Oklahoma soldier,
Staff Sgt. Hal M. Warner of Braggs, was charged July 13 as an accessory to
murder after the fact. His family members have said they expect Warner, 34,
to be cleared of any wrongdoing. Both soldiers are assigned
to D Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry at Forward Operating Base
Summerall, the military said. The unit is part of the 101st Airborne Division
(Air Assault) based at Fort Campbell, Ky. Behenna had been assigned as
an infantry platoon leader, his attorney said. Zimmerman and attorney Kyle
R. Sampson previously represented Edmond Marine Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum,
who was accused of killing Iraqi civilians in a November 2005 raid in the
village of Haditha. Charges against Tatum were
dismissed in March after Marine officials concluded he had responded as he
was trained. External link: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080815_12_OKLA082038 |