Guardsman Found Guilty of Murder

A military jury has found a National Guardsman guilty of premeditated murder in the shooting death of an Afghan civilian.

Sgt. Derrick Miller of Hagerstown, Maryland, was convicted Wednesday at Fort Campbell.

Miller was assigned to a Connecticut National Guard unit and attached to the 101st Airborne Division at the time of the shooting in Eastern Afghanistan. He volunteered to fill a vacancy in the local guard, but is not a member of the Connecticut National Guard.

His attorney had argued during two days of testimony that Miller acted in self-defense when he shot a man the military previously identified as Atta Mohammed. The man was not identified in court.

Prosecuting attorneys brought witnesses who said Miller threatened Mohammed's life before shooting him in the head.

Sentencing continues on Wednesday. Miller faces a maximum punishment of life in prison.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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