Hearing begins for first of 5 soldiers in alleged plot to kill Afghan civilians for sport

Hearing begins in alleged plot to murder Afghans

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — A hearing is under way at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to consider evidence against the first of five soldiers accused of killing three Afghan civilians this year.

Cpl. Jeremy Morlock of Wasilla, Alaska, faces charges including premeditated murder and conspiracy. He told an investigating judge he understood the charges.

The soldiers are accused of killing three civilians in Kandahar Province. Army prosecutors are relying on statements Morlock made in which he described the plot as a deliberate effort led by Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs to murder the civilians for sport. The judge said he watched a video of Morlock’s statements, portions of which have been aired by ABC News.

Morlock’s attorney says his statements are unreliable because they were made under the influence of prescription drugs.