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Green Beret arraigned in desecration of body

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A Special Forces soldier will be court-martialed early next year on charges that he killed an Afghan civilian and cut off his ear near a remote village, the Army said Thursday.

Master Sgt. Joseph D. Newell, 38, of Tecumseh, Mich., was arraigned Wednesday on charges of murder and desecration of a body.

Prosecutors say Newell shot an unidentified man his team encountered during a convoy March 5 near the village of Hyderabad in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

Officials at Fort Bragg held a hearing last month to determine whether there was enough evidence to formally charge Newell.

His attorney, Todd Conormon, argued that evidence against Newell was weak and charges should be dismissed. He said Newell was being “treated like a terrorist” and was a victim of a conspiracy among some soldiers on his team to get rid of him.

Prosecutors said Newell showed the ear to several soldiers.

One testified that he saw Newell shoot the man, whose body hasn’t been found. Newell then ran to his vehicle holding the bloody ear and grinning, the soldier said.

An investigator said he found the ear on a shelf in Newell’s room at Forward Operating Base Robinson in Afghanistan.

Prosecutors said blood from the dead Afghan was found on Newell’s knife, boots and uniform and the man’s scarf was found in Newell’s room.

A message seeking comment was left Thursday with Conormon. Prosecutors aren’t allowed to speak to the news media. If convicted, Newell could face up to life in prison or the death penalty, but prosecutors haven’t said what punishment they will seek.