Soldier accused in stress clinic slayings is back in U.S.

[unhappycamper]

Soldier accused in stress clinic slayings is back in U.S.
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, October 22, 2009

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Germany-based soldier accused of killing five servicemembers at Baghdad’s Camp Liberty in May has been transferred from Kuwait to Butner Federal Medical Center in North Carolina, according to the Army.

Sgt. John M. Russell was transferred from pre-trial confinement because a panel of doctors determined he is “currently unable to cooperate intelligently in his own defense,” according to a news release from I Corps in Fort Lewis, Wash.

Russell will be evaluated in four months to see if he can participate in his own defense, said Maj. Mike Garcia, a spokesman for I Corps. If he is able, the court-martial will go forward. If not, he will continue to be treated, Garcia said.

Russell, who was with the 54th Engineer Battalion out of Bamberg, Germany, is accused of stealing a weapon, walking into a combat stress clinic and opening fire. He is charged with premeditated murder and aggravated assault in connection with the incident.

An investigation prompted by the shooting found widespread institutional failures in implementing Multi-National Force-Iraq’s mental health policy at the brigade and battalion level.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65542