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Tags: army officer, automatic life sentence, bomber timothy mcveigh, braggs, d company, david walters, federal prosecutor, houston law firm, investigation agent, jack zimmerman, military custody, murder charge, obstruction of justice, oklahoma city bomber, oklahoma state bureau, oklahoma state bureau of investigation, state bureau of investigation, timothy mcveigh, tulsa world, u s army,
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Created: Sat Aug 16 17:17:32 2008
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Soldier from Edmond to fight murder charges
by: The Associated Press
8/15/2008 12:00 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Edmond native who is serving in Iraq will fight charges of premeditated murder, his attorney
said.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Michael C. Behenna is charged in the shooting death of Ali Mansur Mohamed, an Iraqi detainee who
was thought to have been released from military custody on May 16.

The details of Mohamed's arrest haven't been released, but Jack Zimmerman, Behenna's lawyer, on Thursday called
the man a suspected terrorist.

Zimmerman's Houston law firm has been retained to represent Behenna, who is the son of a federal prosecutor in
Oklahoma City and a retired Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent.

His mother, Vicki Behenna, helped convict Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, and his father, Scott Behenna,
was part of the investigation that led to criminal charges against former Gov. David Walters.

"Michael comes from parents who have devoted their professional life to public service, and he is an Army officer
protecting us all," Zimmerman said. "We will ensure that the system works and the truth is found."

The soldier's family has declined to comment on the case.

Behenna was charged July 31 with premeditated murder, assault, making a false official statement and obstruction of
justice. The murder charge carries an automatic life sentence if he is convicted.

Another Oklahoma soldier, Staff Sgt. Hal M. Warner of Braggs, was charged July 13 as an accessory to murder after the
fact. His family members have said they expect Warner, 34, to be cleared of any wrongdoing.

Both soldiers are assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry at Forward Operating Base Summerall, the
military said. The unit is part of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) based at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Behenna had been assigned as an infantry platoon leader, his attorney said.

Zimmerman and attorney Kyle R. Sampson previously represented Edmond Marine Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, who
was accused of killing Iraqi civilians in a November 2005 raid in the village of Haditha.

Charges against Tatum were dismissed in March after Marine officials concluded he had responded as he was trained.



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