Justice for Maj. Gregory Stone

I just looked it up and found out that the trial is to begin soon for Sgt. Akbar for the killing of two officers. Maj. Gregory Stone is one of the two officers who were killed during a tent grenade attack at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait at the start of the Iraq war. Maj. Gregory Stone is my cousin.

I hope Sgt Akbar gets his full due. Akbar could get the death penalty if convicted of two counts of premeditated murder and three counts of attempted premeditated murder.

He is accused of stealing grenades from a Humvee and initiating the attack on fellow members of the 101st just days into the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. Killed were Army Capt. Christopher Seifert, 27, and Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone, 40. Another 14 soldiers were injured.

If convicted of two counts of premeditated murder and three counts of attempted premeditated murder, the 33-year-old Akbar could get the death penalty.

The case marks the first time since the Vietnam War that an Army soldier has been prosecuted for the murder or attempted murder of another soldier during wartime.

Henley set aside April 5 for another motions hearing to resolve any final pretrial issues. After jury selection, he said he expects testimony to begin April 11. The entire court-martial is expected to last four
weeks.