JAG CENTRAL

From the AP (via Washington Times), an update on today's first day of testimony in the penalty phase of convicted murderer SGT Hasan Akbar's trial:

A sergeant's attack on his own colleagues in the 101st Airborne Division in Kuwait sidelined key personnel that the unit needed for its assignment in the invasion of Iraq, a commander testified yesterday.

"Everybody knew this would be a big fight," Col. Ben Hodges testified yesterday at a sentencing hearing for Sgt. Hasan Akbar, who was convicted in a grenade and rifle attack that killed two service members and wounded 14. "I never dreamed my first casualties would occur inside Camp Pennsylvania, and they would be caused by one of my own soldiers."

Earlier today, the military judge refused to admit evidence of an attack by Akbar with a sharp object against a military policeman earlier this month, finding it to be more prejudicial than probative under Military Rule of Evidence 403. A sentence could come as early as tomorrow.