Airman on trial in beating death of soldier

[unhappycamper]

Airman on trial in beating death of soldier
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Jan 18, 2009 17:16:29 EST

JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — A court-martial at the Little Rock Air Force Base is to decide the fate of an airman charged in the 2005 beating death of an Army sergeant at a U.S. military base in Germany, in what prosecutors say resulted from a gang initiation.

The proceeding for Staff Sgt. Jerome A. Jones, 25, began last week; testimony was scheduled to resume Monday before Judge Advocate General Lt. Col. Nancy Paul. Prosecutors allege Jones and others stationed at Kaiserslaughtern beat Sgt. Juwan Johnson of Baltimore before he was found dead in his room July 4, 2005, at the base in Germany.

Jones has pleaded not guilty to numerous violations, including involuntary manslaughter, three counts of conspiracy, two counts of obstruction of justice, and one count each of wrongful use or possession of a controlled substance, failure to obey an order or regulation, and being an accessory after the fact.

Jones is a C-130 cargo plane crew chief with the 314th Airlift Wing at the air base north of Little Rock.

In opening statements for the prosecution, Capt. Peter Kezar described an initiation ritual used by the Gangster Disciples street gang, in which new members must endure a six-minute beating.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_airman_soldier_beating_011809/%2e