Bowe Bergdahl faces hearing over desertion charges

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Bowe Bergdahl faces hearing over desertion charges

Tom Dart in San Antonio
Thursday 17 September 2015 13.32 BST

A hearing to decide whether a US army sergeant accused of desertion should face a court martial is set to begin at a San Antonio military base on Thursday.

Bowe Bergdahl was charged in March with desertion and the rare charge of misbehaviour before the enemy, which carries a punishment of up to life in prison. Desertion can result in a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors will make their case against Bergdahl in a courtroom at Fort Sam Houston in what is known as an Article 32 hearing. An officer will decide whether there is probable cause to charge the 29-year-old Idaho native with breaking military rules, and produce a report.

General Robert Abrams, the head of US army forces command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, will ultimately determine how to proceed in the case.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/17/bowe-bergdahl-hearing-desertion-charges-court-martial

[HassleCat]

1. It would be interesting

Bergdahl seems to be a very confused individual, and I think the army knew he was emotionally unstable long before he walked off his post. I think the army will avoid a trial because a trial would reveal the fact they make people perform jobs for which they are not suited, ill prepared, inadequately trained, etc.