The Latest: Judge delays Bergdahl trial until spring of 2017

November 14, 2016

Kate Nemarich,

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The Latest on the military case against Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl (all times local):

11:20 p.m.

A military judge is delaying the trial of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

Army Col. Jeffery Nance decided to push the trial back to May 2017 during a pretrial hearing Monday at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The trial had been scheduled for February.

Prosecutors filed a motion in October requesting a trial delay. They cited the pace at which they’re able to get approval to give the defense classified evidence as a main reason for the delay.

The judge also planned to hear testimony Monday about soldiers the prosecution says were injured while looking for Bergdahl. Nance is considering a motion on whether to allow such evidence at trial.

Bergdahl, who’s from Hailey, Idaho, walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held captive by the Taliban and its allies for five years. He was freed in 2014 and faces up to life in prison if convicted of both charges.

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6 a.m.

A military judge will consider delaying the trial of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled Monday at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Prosecutors filed a motion in October asking to delay the trial by several months until May 2017. They cite the pace at which they’re able to get approval to give the defense classified evidence.

Defense lawyers previously argued the case should be taken off the calendar because of the evidence issue, but they haven’t said whether they agree with the prosecution’s latest request.

Bergdahl, who’s from Hailey, Idaho, walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held captive by the Taliban and its allies for five years. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of both charges.