NATION : Court-Martial in Panama Case

FT. BRAGG, N.C. — The court-martial of a Ft. Bragg soldier who is charged with the murder of a Panamanian soldier began today amid charges the prosecution is unfair.

If convicted, Sgt. Enrico Bryan could get a life prison term. The Panama native is the first soldier since the Vietnam War to be charged with murder in combat.

Concern that Bryan was being prosecuted unfairly intensified this summer after Ft. Bragg’s commander decided to proceed with the case. Lt. Gen. Gary Luck’s decision to recommend a charge of unpremeditated murder came after investigators concluded that the charges should be dropped.

The shooting took place Dec. 23 after the beginning of the airborne assault on Panama known as Operation Just Cause. Bryan claimed that he shot the soldier after the Panamanian threw a hand grenade that wounded 10 U.S. soldiers. The sergeant and other witnesses said Bryan fired the fatal shot as the soldier was about to use a second hand grenade. However, Lt. Brandon Thomas said the shooting took place as Bryan dragged the Panamanian away from the area.