Tennessee Guardsman awaits trial in slaying of Afghan Soldier says he shot civilian in self-defense

By Kristin M. Hall Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- An Army National Guardsman is awaiting a military trial at Fort Campbell, Ky., on a charge of murder in the shooting death of an Afghan last year. Sgt. Derrick Anthony Miller was a member of a Connecticut National Guard unit that was attached to the 101st Airborne Division when he was accused of shooting Atta Mohammed in the head in September in eastern Afghanistan. According to the charge, Miller is accused of shooting Mohammed with premeditation around Sept. 26 in Laghman Province with an M9 9 mm Beretta pistol. Miller, a decorated soldier who has also served in the Maryland National Guard, had deployed three times: twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. According to documents from the military investigation obtained by The Associated Press, the victim, an unarmed civilian, entered a defensive perimeter that Miller's unit had set up around a mortar platoon. According to the documents, Miller took the Afghan into a latrine for further questioning along with an interpreter and another soldier. When the man gave inconsistent answers, Miller raised the pistol to the man's head and threatened him, according to a report of the shooting. There was a struggle between Miller and the Afghan and sometime after, Miller shot the man in the head, according to the report. Miller said in a statement that the man grabbed for the gun and he shot the man in self-defense. But according to the investigative report, the government says two witnesses to the shooting dispute that the Afghan was reaching for the gun. An Article 32 hearing, which is similar to a civilian grand jury, was held in December. Published: Thu, Feb 24, 2011