Hearing for ’05 death held in Bamberg

[unhappycamper]

Hearing for ’05 death held in Bamberg
By Mark St.Clair, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Tuesday, October 28, 2008

BAMBERG, Germany — A motions hearing for the government’s case against Pvt. Bobby D. Morrissette — who allegedly was involved in the July 2005 gang-related death of Sgt. Juwan Johnson — was held Monday at Warner Barracks.

Previous court proceedings in Morrissette’s case were stopped on May 30, 2007, when the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s Office of the Staff Judge Advocate was disqualified. The case was then turned over to U.S. Army Europe, and the case was delayed for more than a year.

Military Judge Col. Timothy Grammel heard arguments from the defense that Morrissette had been denied due process and his 5th Amendment right to a speedy trial when the government failed to prefer charges against him until June 24.

Morrissette is charged with involuntary manslaughter, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, two specifications of participating in gang initiation rituals, two specifications of impeding an investigation, impeding a trial by court-martial and two counts of willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer.

He was scheduled to separate from the service in April but was extended until Dec. 28 or the completion of his court-martial, whichever comes first.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58439