Tucson court-martial begins for airman accused in colleague's killing
BY CAROL ANN ALAIMO, ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Court-martial proceedings got underway today for a Davis-Monthan airman accused of killing another D-M airman in 2007.
A military jury of six officers and four enlisted personnel will decide the fate of Senior Airman Phillip Andre Howard, who is on trial in the slaying of Airman 1st Class Brian Santos
Santos, 24, of South Gate, Calif., was was found lying in the street of a southside neighborhood, not far from a fractious house party both men attended in June 2007.
Air Force prosecutors maintains that Howard, 24, is guilty of unpremeditated murder in the death, in which the victim died from multiple blows to the head that cracked his skull.
Defense lawyers say Howard, of D-M's 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, was not responsible for those injuries, and tried to calm things down at the party to prevent fighting.
“Airman Howard was not a lawbreaker. He was a peacemaker,” defense lawyer Maj. Lance Wood said in opening arguments.
