Assault charges against Kabul Airmen dismissed

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNEWS) --  Assault charges and specifications that were preferred against two Airmen deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, were dropped March 31. 

The general court-martial convening authority, Lt. Gen. Gary North, commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces and 9th Air Force, dismissed all charges and specifications against Lt. Cols. Gary W. Brown and Christopher R. Hall after careful consideration of all the evidence in the case, to include the Article 32 report. 

Colonels Brown and Hall were charged separately as a result of an incident that involved the assault of a U.S. civilian contractor in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 19, 2006. 

An Article 32 hearing is a proceeding under the Uniform Code of Military Justice that is similar to a grand jury proceeding in civilian law. The purpose is to inquire into the truth of the matter set forth in the charges, consider the form of the charges, and make a recommendation as to the disposition that should be made of the case in the interest of justice and discipline. 

In this case, the Article 32 investigation uncovered information that someone may have attempted to influence the testimonies of several local national witnesses. The possibility of witness tampering raised questions about the integrity of critical evidence in the case. An investigation into this allegation is under way. 

"Investigating these incidents through the Article 32 process was the proper course of action, and the process shows that our military justice system is fair and balanced and the right mechanism to bring the evidence in a case to the commander," said General North. 

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