Defense asks Army to release soldier pending trial
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}One of five soldiers accused of killing civilians in Afghanistan has asked an Army judge to release him from jail while he waits for his court-martial, set for June.
Spc. Michael Wagnon, of Las Vegas, has been confined at Joint Base Lewis-McChord since last June.
The News Tribune of Tacoma said Wagnon's lawyers told military judge Lt. Col. Kwasi Hawks on Thursday that Wagnon is not a flight risk.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hawks said he would consider releasing Wagnon.
He was accused of murdering a civilian in February 2010 and trying to obstruct the investigation by destroying evidence.
Spc. Jeremy Morlock, the first of the five to be court-martialed, was sentenced last month to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of murder and related charges.