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German Federal States — News — Rhineland-Palatinate — Eifel — military court — Knife attack — Military — Public prosecutor's office — Germany — Nato — us air force — USA — Bodily injury — Trier — Wittlich — Justice — Criminality

After knife attack: US soldier goes to military court

The fatal attack on a man at a funfair in Wittlich in mid-August has made headlines. The alleged perpetrator, a US soldier, will now face a military court next year.

,   and  Katherine Bradley
3 min read
A sign reading "Defendant" is placed on the court bench. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de
A sign reading "Defendant" is placed on the court bench. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de

Justice - After knife attack: US soldier goes to military court

Following the fatal knife attack on a man at a funfair in Wittlich, a US soldier must stand trial before a military court at Spangdahlem Air Base from May 28, 2024. The US soldier will be charged under US law with non-premeditated murder, grievous bodily harm with a dangerous weapon and obstruction of justice, Spangdahlem Air Base in the Eifel region announced on Monday.

A 28-year-old man was killed in the attack on August 19. He died of a stab wound. The attack caused horror in the region. Two US military personnel were subsequently arrested. The public prosecutor's office in Trier therefore handed over the prosecution to the US authorities - as stipulated in the supplementary agreement to the NATO Status of Forces Agreement.

The German side had previously reported that there had been a scuffle during an argument at the funfair, in which the two soldiers had allegedly attacked the victim with a knife. The reason for the fight was initially unclear.

The accused now has to answer for his actions in a court martial: this is the strictest trial provided for a member of the military, the air base announced. After a hearing before a military judge in mid-November, the charges were referred to the military court. Family members of the victim were also present at the hearing, it said.

If convicted, the US soldier would face a life sentence. In addition, he would then be dishonorably discharged from the military, it was said. However, he is considered innocent until he is convicted. The man is temporarily assigned to the unit of the 726th Air Transport Wing, which is responsible for the maintenance of aircraft and the transportation of people and cargo on the ground. As "Airman 1st Class", he has the third lowest rank in the US Air Force. There was initially no further information about the man.

The US Office of Special Investigations, a special unit of the US Air Force, had taken over the investigation. No information was released to the public for months, until Monday.

Time and again, investigators' cases end up before a US military court, including at the bases in Spangdahlem and Ramstein in the Palatinate. Under US law, they deal with the accusations regardless of whether the military member is accused of an offense inside or outside the airbase. However, such trials are not that frequent.

A list from the US Air Force Attorney General's Office shows that the military court in Ramstein handed down four verdicts this year. There were three verdicts in Spangdahlem in 2023.

Spangdahlem is home to an F-16 fighter jet squadron with more than 20 aircraft. The squadron, which supports US Air Force and NATO missions worldwide, is the centerpiece of the airfield. According to the air base, around 10,000 Americans and their families belong to the 52nd Fighter Wing.

726th Air Mobility Squadron Office of Special Investigations Spangdahlem Air Base Ranks

Read also:

  1. The knife attack occurred in Wittlich, a town located in the Eifel region, which is part of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
  2. The public prosecutor's office in Trier, another city in Rhineland-Palatinate, handed over the investigation to the US authorities due to a NATO Status of Forces Agreement.
  3. The US Air Force's Office of Special Investigations took over the investigation into the knife attack, a unit responsible for investigating criminality within the US military in Germany.
  4. The military court at Spangdahlem Air Base, a significant base for both the US Air Force and NATO in Germany, will hear the case against the US soldier.
  5. The incident at the funfair in Wittlich resulted in a scuffle and the use of a knife, leading to charges of non-premeditated murder, grievous bodily harm, and obstruction of justice.
  6. The US military court in Ramstein, another base in Rhineland-Palatinate, recently handed down four verdicts, demonstrating the relevance of such military courts in dealing with criminality within the US military in Germany.
  7. As a member of the US Air Force, the accused US soldier faces a life sentence if convicted and dishonorable discharge from the military, underscoring the severe consequences of such criminal acts.

Source: www.stern.de

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