Hasan Akbar case
Encyclopedia
The Hasan Akbar case refers to an event in the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, when Hasan Karim Akbar (born Mark Fidel Kools on April 21, 1971, in Watts, Los Angeles, California
) was convicted of the double-murder
of two officers
assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
at Camp Pennsylvania
, Kuwait
.
The victims were Army
Captain Christopher Seifert and Air Force
Major Gregory Stone. Fourteen other soldiers were also wounded in the incident, which took place on 23 March 2003. The sentence of death
, affirmed by the commander of the 18th Airborne Corps, is due to be heard on the court's docket when scheduled by the Army Court of Criminal Appeals
under an automatic appeal. As of 2010 Hasan Akbar is confined in the United States Disciplinary Barracks
.
, changing her child's name to a Muslim one as well.
He was admitted in 1988 under the name of Mark Fidel Kools to the University of California, Davis
, graduating nine years later with Bachelor's degrees in both Aeronautical
and Mechanical Engineering
. After joining the United States Army
, he was assigned to Company A, 326th Engineer Battalion of the 101st Airborne
, assigned as a sapper
and eventually deployed to Kuwait
.
Army
Captain Christopher Seifert was also a member of the 101st Airborne Division. Air Force
Major Gregory Stone, a member of the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard
, was attached to the 101st Airborne Division.
and shooting attack that killed two, while wounding fourteen other soldiers on 23 March 2003. The attack took place at Camp Pennsylvania
, Kuwait, a rear base camp for the invasion. There, Akbar threw four hand grenades into three tents during early morning when the majority of troops were sleeping, and fired his rifle during the ensuing chaos. News reports at the time claimed that Akbar had been recently reprimanded for insubordination
and was told he would not join his unit's push into Iraq
.
Although Akbar confessed to the crimes, his lawyers claimed that he had a history of mental illness
which was known to the military. During his trial Akbar smuggled a pair of scissors out of a conference room, then asked the Military Police
officer guarding him to remove his hand cuffs so he might use the restroom. When the MP did remove Akbar's restraints, he then stabbed the MP in the shoulder and neck with the scissors before being wrestled to the ground by another MP. The army judge did not allow this attack to be admitted as evidence prior to sentencing.
He was tried in Fort Bragg, North Carolina
in front of a military jury of nine officers, with ranks from major to colonel, and six senior sergeants. There were 13 men and two women on the jury.
Since the Vietnam War
, Akbar is the first U.S. soldier to be charged with the murder of another soldier during wartime, and the third soldier since the Vietnam War to be sentenced to death for killing a fellow soldier.
entry dated 4 February 2003, Akbar referred to mistreatment by his fellow soldiers:
Akbar wrote prior to the attack "I may not have killed any Muslims, but being in the army is the same thing. I may have to make a choice very soon on who to kill."
Prosecutors alleged that his diary entries and his actions (stealing hand grenades and turning off the generator that lit the camp) showed that the attack was premeditated.
Akbar himself reportedly said, just moments after his arrest, "You guys are coming into our countries, and you're going to rape our women and kill our children."
Watts, Los Angeles, California
Watts is a mostly residential neighborhood in South Los Angeles, California.-History:The area now known as Watts is located on the Rancho La Tajauta Mexican land grant...
) was convicted of the double-murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of two officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
at Camp Pennsylvania
Camp Pennsylvania
Camp Pennsylvania is a small military base in Kuwait in use by the 101st Airborne Division during the Iraq War during major hostilities. This small military base consists of little more than fencing and tents, however it became famous after a grenade attack in March 2003.-Grenade attack:Camp...
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
.
The victims were Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Captain Christopher Seifert and Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Major Gregory Stone. Fourteen other soldiers were also wounded in the incident, which took place on 23 March 2003. The sentence of death
Death Sentence
Death Sentence is a short story by the American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov.-Plot summary:...
, affirmed by the commander of the 18th Airborne Corps, is due to be heard on the court's docket when scheduled by the Army Court of Criminal Appeals
Army Court of Criminal Appeals
In the United States military, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals is an appellate court that reviews certain court martial convictions of Army personnel.-Jurisdiction:...
under an automatic appeal. As of 2010 Hasan Akbar is confined in the United States Disciplinary Barracks
United States Disciplinary Barracks
The United States Disciplinary Barracks is a military prison located on Fort Leavenworth, a United States Army post in Kansas....
.
Persons involved
Mark Fidel Kools was renamed Hasan Karim Akbar after his mother remarried and converted to IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, changing her child's name to a Muslim one as well.
He was admitted in 1988 under the name of Mark Fidel Kools to the University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
, graduating nine years later with Bachelor's degrees in both Aeronautical
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
and Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
. After joining the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, he was assigned to Company A, 326th Engineer Battalion of the 101st Airborne
101st Airborne Division (United States)
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, assigned as a sapper
Sapper
A sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
and eventually deployed to Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
.
Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Captain Christopher Seifert was also a member of the 101st Airborne Division. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Major Gregory Stone, a member of the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard
Idaho Air National Guard
The Idaho Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is, along with the Idaho Army National Guard, an element of the Idaho National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission....
, was attached to the 101st Airborne Division.
Killings and aftermath
Akbar was charged in a hand grenadeHand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
and shooting attack that killed two, while wounding fourteen other soldiers on 23 March 2003. The attack took place at Camp Pennsylvania
Camp Pennsylvania
Camp Pennsylvania is a small military base in Kuwait in use by the 101st Airborne Division during the Iraq War during major hostilities. This small military base consists of little more than fencing and tents, however it became famous after a grenade attack in March 2003.-Grenade attack:Camp...
, Kuwait, a rear base camp for the invasion. There, Akbar threw four hand grenades into three tents during early morning when the majority of troops were sleeping, and fired his rifle during the ensuing chaos. News reports at the time claimed that Akbar had been recently reprimanded for insubordination
Insubordination
Insubordination is the act of willfully disobeying an authority. Refusing to perform an action that is unethical or illegal is not insubordination; neither is refusing to perform an action that is not within the scope of authority of the person issuing the order.Insubordination is typically a...
and was told he would not join his unit's push into Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Although Akbar confessed to the crimes, his lawyers claimed that he had a history of mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
which was known to the military. During his trial Akbar smuggled a pair of scissors out of a conference room, then asked the Military Police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
officer guarding him to remove his hand cuffs so he might use the restroom. When the MP did remove Akbar's restraints, he then stabbed the MP in the shoulder and neck with the scissors before being wrestled to the ground by another MP. The army judge did not allow this attack to be admitted as evidence prior to sentencing.
He was tried in Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
in front of a military jury of nine officers, with ranks from major to colonel, and six senior sergeants. There were 13 men and two women on the jury.
Verdict and appeals
- On 21 April 2005 Akbar was found guilty of two counts of premeditated murderPremeditated murderPremeditated murder is the crime of wrongfully causing the death of another human being after rationally considering the timing or method of doing so, in order to either increase the likelihood of success, or to evade detection or apprehension.State laws in the United States vary as to definitions...
(of Captain Seifert, who was shot in the back, and Major Stone, struck by shrapnel) and three counts of attempted premeditated murder. He was sentenced to deathCapital punishmentCapital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
on 28 April, the juryJuryA jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
deliberating for approximately 7 hours. As of 2010 Hasan Akbar is confined in the United States Disciplinary BarracksUnited States Disciplinary BarracksThe United States Disciplinary Barracks is a military prison located on Fort Leavenworth, a United States Army post in Kansas....
.
- On 20 November 2006 Lieutenant General John Vines, commander of the 18th Airborne Corps, affirmed the death sentence against Akbar. The case went to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals under an automatic appeal. If the appeal fails, the execution will take place by lethal injectionLethal injectionLethal injection is the practice of injecting a person with a fatal dose of drugs for the express purpose of causing the immediate death of the subject. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide...
.
Since the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, Akbar is the first U.S. soldier to be charged with the murder of another soldier during wartime, and the third soldier since the Vietnam War to be sentenced to death for killing a fellow soldier.
Possible motives
Military officials attributed Akbar's motive to resentment. In a diaryDiary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
entry dated 4 February 2003, Akbar referred to mistreatment by his fellow soldiers:
- "I suppose they want to punk me or just humiliate me. Perhaps they feel that I will not do anything about that. They are right about that. I am not going to do anything about it as long as I stay here. But as soon as I am in Iraq, I am going to try and kill as many of them as possible."
Akbar wrote prior to the attack "I may not have killed any Muslims, but being in the army is the same thing. I may have to make a choice very soon on who to kill."
Prosecutors alleged that his diary entries and his actions (stealing hand grenades and turning off the generator that lit the camp) showed that the attack was premeditated.
Akbar himself reportedly said, just moments after his arrest, "You guys are coming into our countries, and you're going to rape our women and kill our children."
See also
- Naser Jason AbdoNaser Jason AbdoNaser Jason Abdo is a Muslim US Army Private First Class who is currently being held without bond for possession of an unregistered firearm and allegedly planning to attack a restaurant frequented by soldiers from Fort Hood.-Early life:Abdo grew up in Garland, Texas and attended Richardson Terrace...
- 2005 Deaths of Phillip Esposito and Louis AllenDeaths of Phillip Esposito and Louis AllenThe deaths of Phillip Esposito and Louis Allen were caused on June 7, 2005, at Forward Operating Base Danger in Tikrit, Iraq. Captain Phillip Esposito and First Lieutenant Louis Allen, from a New York Army National Guard unit of the United States 42nd Infantry Division, were killed by a Claymore...
- 2007 Fort Dix attack plot2007 Fort Dix attack plotThe 2007 Fort Dix attack plot involved a group of six radical Islamist men who conspired to stage an attack against U.S. Military personnel stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The alleged aim of the group was to "kill as many soldiers as possible"....
- 2009 Camp Liberty attackCamp Liberty killingsThe Camp Liberty killings occurred on May 11, 2009, at military counseling clinic at Camp Liberty, Iraq. Sgt. John M. Russell, 44, of the 54th Engineer Battalion based at Warner Barracks in Bamberg, Germany, was taken into custody and charged with five counts of murder and one count of aggravated...
- 2009 Fort Hood attackFort Hood shootingThe Fort Hood shooting was a mass shooting that took place on November 5, 2009, at Fort Hood, the most populous U.S. military installation in the world, located just outside Killeen, Texas. In the course of the shooting, a single gunman killed 13 people and wounded 29 others...
- 2009 Lloyd R. WoodsonLloyd R. WoodsonLloyd R. Woodson is an American whose arrest in central New Jersey on January 25, 2010 received national attention in the United States. Woodson was armed with a semi-automatic assault rifle and was wearing a military-grade ballistic vest at the time of his arrest...
case - Nidal Malik HasanNidal Malik HasanNidal Malik Hasan, USA is a United States Army officer and sole suspect in the November 5, 2009, Fort Hood shooting, which occurred less than a month before he would have deployed to Afghanistan....
- Anwar al-AwlakiAnwar al-AwlakiAnwar al-Awlaki was an American and Yemeni imam who was an engineer and educator by training. According to U.S. government officials, he was a senior talent recruiter and motivator who was involved with planning operations for the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda...
- Adam Yahiye GadahnAdam Yahiye GadahnAdam Yahiye Gadahn is an American who is a senior operative, cultural interpreter, spokesman and media advisor for the Sunni islamist group Al-Qaeda. Since 2004, he appeared in a number of videos produced by Al-Qaeda as "Azzam the American"...