Jury deliberates in trial of ex-soldier

[unhappycamper]

Jury deliberates in trial of ex-soldier
By P. Solomon Banda - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Nov 16, 2008 16:28:36 EST

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Defense attorneys say no physical evidence links a former Fort Carson soldier to the slaying of a fellow Iraq war veteran, pointing to blood found on the victim’s pants that they say belongs to another defendant.

Louis Bressler, 24, is charged with first-degree murder in the Dec. 1, 2007, death of Spc. Kevin Shields, 24.

The defense theory is that co-defendant Bruce Bastien Jr. bled on Shields’ pants while he was standing over Shields shooting him. Prosecutors say the blood got on Shields’ pants earlier that night.

Jurors Friday began deliberating the case after prosecutors and defense attorneys delivered their closing arguments, during which prosecutor Jack Roth held up the murder weapon, a .38-caliber revolver, and walked over to Bressler, who was reclining in his seat at the defendants’ table.

“It has everything to do with this young man right here and what this young man did with this gun,” Roth said in a booming voice, countering defense attorney Ed Farry’s attempt to shift the blame.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_soldierslaying_111508/%2e