Sgt. Hasan Akbar found guilty

Court-martial finds soldier guilty in desert grenade attack
Updated: 4/21/2005 4:26 PM
By: Associated Press


(FORT BRAGG) - A military jury at Fort Bragg Thursday convicted a 101st Airborne soldier in a grenade and rifle attack on fellow soldiers waiting for orders to invade Iraq.

The court-martial determined Sergeant Hasan Akbar murdered the two officers killed in the attack two years ago. Fourteen other troops were wounded.

The jury's unanimous guilty verdict means Akbar could be sentenced to death. A sentencing hearing will be Monday.

The jury deliberated the verdict for about two and a half hours Thursday.

Akbar, 33, stood at attention as the verdict was read by the colonel who headed the jury panel, chewing his lip but giving no other outward sign of emotion.

It's the first time since Vietnam that an American has been convicted for killing fellow soldiers during wartime.

Akbar's defense lawyers didn't deny the Muslim soldier carried out the assault. They said he was insane during the attack at a desert camp of the 101st Airborne Division in Kuwait.

Prosecutors say he was sane and that the crime was premeditated.