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Spc. Marc Hall, 2-7 Infantry Battalion, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID, will have his court martial in the U.S. Central Command area of operations under the jurisdiction of the 1st Armored Division. The 1st HBCT, 3rd ID, is under the operational command of the 1st AD during the Fort Stewart brigade's deployment in Iraq.
Hall will be flown to Kuwait in the next few days, and the date of the court martial will be determined by a military judge.
The jurisdiction transfer ensures a full and fair trial for both Hall and the United States. Most of the witnesses in the trial are soldiers from Hall's unit, a unit currently involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. A trial in the CENTCOM AOR ensures that all the important witnesses will be available to testify at the request of either Hall or the prosecutors. The court martial location also allows the soldiers of the 1st HBCT, 3rd ID, to also focus on their advisement mission in Baghdad by avoiding unnecessary travel to the U.S. for a court martial. Hall will be afforded all rights guaranteed to any servicemember under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Constitution of the United States.
Hall was charged Dec. 17 with five specifications in violation of Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Conduct, two of those for wrongfully communicating a threat. The charges are connected to song lyrics allegedly written by Hall that allege deadly threats against his chain of command and fellow Soldiers, specifically shooting them. Hall followed his song lyrics with similar verbal threats made to several soldiers within his unit.
The chain of command's appropriate response maintains the good order and discipline of the unit, and also ensures the safety of our community. Soldiers, families and civilian employees are entitled to a safe and secure environment in which to live and work. Any threats to their safety and security will be taken seriously and treated accordingly.
