BAGHDAD (AFP) — A US soldier and an officer have been charged with the murder of an Iraqi detainee and their first hearings will take place near executed dictator Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit next week, the US military said on Thursday.
The hearings of Staff Sergeant Hal Warner and 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna will begin September 11 and September 20 respectively at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, the military told AFP.
Both have been charged with premeditated murder, assault, making a false official statement and obstruction of justice.
The charges follow a criminal investigation into the death of Ali Mansur Mohammed, a detainee initially believed to have been released by coalition forces on or about May 16, 2008.
Warner's hearing was to have been held on Friday but has been postponed to next Thursday, a military spokesman said.
Their D Company, 1st Battalion is based near the northern oil refinery town of Baiji.
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