BURKE

            A FORT CAMPBELL INVESTIGATING OFFICER HAS ONCE AGAIN RECOMMENDED THAT MURDER CHARGES AGAINST FORMER FORT CAMPBELL SOLDIER BRENT BURKE GO TO A GENERAL COURT MARTIAL.

            AN ARTICLE 32 HEARING IS SIMILAR TO A GRAND JURY SESSION AND REQUIRES A THOROUGH AND IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION OF CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS BEFORE THEY CAN BE REFERRED TO A GENERAL-COURT-MARTIAL FOR THE CRIMES WHICH ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED.

            THE MOST RECENT HEARING WAS HELD OCTOBER 14^TH ON POST AND GAVE AN OFFICER THE AUTHORITY TO LOOK OVER THE DOUBLE-HOMICIDE CASE AGAIN AND TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMANDING GENERAL.

            A COURT MARTIAL IS SIMILAR TO A TRIAL IN THE CIVILIAN WORLD, BUT DIFFERS IN THAT A UNANIMOUS VERDICT IS NOT REQUIRED.

            BURKE IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING HIS ESTRANGED WIFE AND FORMER MOTHER-IN-LAW TRACY BURKE AND KAREN COMER IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 IN HARDIN COUNTY. FOUR CIVILIAN TRIALS RESULTED IN MISTRIALS AND HUNG JURIES.

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