18 Jul 2007

Court-martial of Hawaii-born officer in Iraq case deferred

4:37 pm on 18 July 2007

The second court-martial for a Honolulu-born soldier who refused to deploy to Iraq has been moved to October the 9th.

Lieutenant Ehren Watada's trial was to begin next week, but government and defense attorneys requested a new date.

Lt Watada is charged with missing deployment in June 2006 and conduct unbecoming an officer for comments made about President George Bush and the Iraq war.

If convicted, he faces six years in prison and dishonourable discharge.

Lt Watada contends the war in Iraq is illegal.

His first trial ended in a mistrial.