Defense to begin in military trial of NC soldier acquitted of murder in civilian court

Defense to start in triple murder trial in NC

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Lawyers for a retired soldier forced back into the Army to face charges in a North Carolina triple slaying 25 years ago are expected to open their case this week.

Prosecutors say they will present one more witness Monday before they rest their case against 51-year-old Master Sgt. Timothy Hennis. On Friday, a forensics technician with the Army’s criminal investigations lab said a DNA test links Hennis to the deaths.

He is charged with three counts of premeditated murder in the 1985 deaths of 31-year-old Kathryn Eastburn and her two daughters in their Fayetteville home.

Hennis was first convicted in state court, but won an appeal and was acquitted in a second state trial. He couldn’t be tried in state court again, so the case was turned over to the Army.