Morlock court hearing set for Afghan murders

Staff reports

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. — A former Houston High student accused of attrocities in Afghanistan will face the military equivalent of a grand jury here 9 a.m. Monday.

The Article 32 hearing will determine if the case against Spc. Jeremy N. Morlock, 22, will go forward. Morlock is charged in the deaths of three Afghan civilians, and with using hashish and beating and threatening the life of another civilian, according to the Joint Base Lewis-McChord investigating officer.

Morlock, of Wasilla, is one of seven soldiers from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team to face serious charges in regard to at least four separate incidents between Jan. 1 and May 2. Another seven soldiers were added to the charging documents earlier this month for acts related to the murders, but not with murder, according to a military spokeswoman.

Charging documents accuse Morlock of killing one civilian with a rifle and two others with fragmentary grenades and a rifle.

In threatening the fourth victim, Morlock allegedly showed the civilian “fingers removed from a corpse,” the document says. The military also alleges Morlock photographed and possessed visual images of human casualties.

Morlock’s friends and family have set up a legal defense fund for the soldier at www.jeremymorlockdefense.com.