Defense opens its case in court-martial of soldier charged in deadly grenade attack
FORT BRAGG, N.C. A psychologist has testified that a U-S solider charged in a deadly attack in Kuwait had problems relating to other people as a teen-ager. The testimony comes as the defense opens its case in the court-martial of Sergeant Hasan Akbar (AK'-bar). He's accused of attacking fellow soldiers at a camp in Kuwait, during the opening days of the Iraq war. An Army captain and an Air Force major were killed in the grenade and shooting attack.
The psychologist testified that he first interviewed Akbar in 1986, when Akbar was 14. He says Akbar "just couldn't relate to people," and that he never smiled during their meeting. He says it "was very significant" that Akbar didn't show emotion.
Defense lawyers don't deny that Akbar carried out the attack, but say he's mentally ill and incapable of premeditation.
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