Lawyer argues self defense for accused soldier
A lawyer for the Minneapolis army sergeant charged with killing two soldiers in Iraq said he was acting in self defense, according to an Associated Press article in Wednesday’s Star Tribune.
Sgt. Joseph Bozicevich's is charged with killing Staff Sgt. Darris Dawson of Pensacola, Fla., and Sgt. Wesley Durbin of Dallas base south of Baghdad early on Sept. 14. Bozicevich’s Article 32 hearing – similar to a civilian grand jury – is currently underway at Fort Stewart.
An article in Tuesday’s Pioneer Press painted a grim picture of the events Sept. 14. According to testimonies, Bozicevich chased Dawson and Durbin around the base hours after being criticized by the victims on two separate occasions.
“As I'm seeing Sgt. Bozicevich, he's saying, '(Expletive), I'm going to kill you,' " Staff Sgt. John Dresel said during his testimony. "Pow! I could see the muzzle flash. ... When the muzzle flash came up, I could see his face. You could just see the expression on his face, angry and wild."
According to the Pioneer Press, Dressel testified that after soldiers tied Bozicevich up, the former University of Minnesota student said, “I'm glad they're dead. Kill me,” although none of the other soldiers at the hearing testified to hearing him say those words.