Trial begins in slaying of soldier

[unhappycamper]

Trial begins in slaying of soldier
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Nov 6, 2008 6:32:02 EST

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Attorneys for an Iraq war veteran accused of gunning down an Army buddy after they returned from an overseas deployment say two co-defendants are trying to frame the ex-soldier.

Twenty-five-year-old Louis Bressler is on trial for the Dec. 1 death of 24-year-old Spc. Kevin Shields, a father of two.

During opening statements Tuesday defense attorney Ed Farry says another man pulled the trigger, not Bressler. Two others soldiers have entered pleas and agreed to testify against Bressler.

Prosecutors say Shields was gunned down after he learned of a plot by his buddies to commit robberies and then getting in a fight with Bressler. Bressler is also accused in the August 2007 slaying of Robert James, another Fort Carson soldier.

“Part of the soldiers’ creed states, ‘I will not leave a fallen comrade.’ Ladies and gentlemen, that is what the defendant did on Dec. 1, 2007,” Deputy District Attorney Laurel Cain told the seven men and seven women on the jury.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_murdertrial_110608/%2e