Page 5 - ARUBA TODAY

A5
U.S. NEWS Tuesday 31 OcTOber 2017

On stand, Bergdahl apologizes to those hurt looking for him

By JONATHAN DREW ing beatings with copper
Associated Press wire and unending bouts
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — In of gastrointestinal problems
an unexpected and emo- brought on by squalid con-
tional statement, Army Sgt. ditions. He was kept in a
Bowe Bergdahl apologized cage for four out of the five
in court Monday to all the years after several escape
military personnel who attempts, and his muscles
were wounded search- atrophied to the point he
ing for him and described could barely stand or walk.
the daily nightmares and Asked by a defense attor-
flashbacks to his five years ney what the worst part of
in captivity of Taliban allies captivity was, he respond-
he still endures. ed that it wasn’t the beat-
Bergdahl was the first wit- ings. “The worst was the
ness in what’s expected to constant, just the constant
be a multi-day presenta- deterioration of everything.
tion by the defense to the The constant pain from
judge who will decide his my body falling apart. The
punishment for endanger- constant screams from my
ing comrades by walking mind,” he said, haltingly. “It
off his post in Afghanistan was the years of waiting to
in 2009. He spoke for two see whether or not the next
hours, giving a wide-rang- time someone opens the United States Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl arrives at the Fort Bragg courtroom facility for a sentencing
ing description of his brutal door if that would be the hearing on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, on Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who walked off his base in
years in captivity and what person coming to execute Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, pleaded guilty to desertion and
challenges he still faces you.” misbehavior before the enemy.
with daily life. Bergdahl said he still has (Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)
“I would like everyone who nightmares that make it flashlight nearby. from unpredictable trig- Hailey, Idaho, was brought
searched for me to know hard to sleep more than He wakes up sometimes gers. home by President Barack
it was never my intention five hours. He checks his not remembering that he’s “It could be anything: A Obama brought him in
for anyone to be hurt, and door at least three times to back in the U.S., he said, smell, perfume, damp 2014 in a swap for five Tal-
I never expected that to make sure it’s secure each and has daytime flash- earth, garbage,” he said. iban prisoners at Guanta-
happen,” he said, chok- night and sleeps with a backs to captivity arising The 31-year-old soldier from namo Bay.q
ing up at times. “My words
alone can’t take away
their pain.” Bergdahl faces Police:
a maximum of life in prison
after pleading guilty to de- Bullet ricocheted, killed woman in San Francisco
sertion and misbehavior
before the enemy. By PAUL ELIAS said he and other investi- turned to the popular pier shoot the gun at pedestri-
His appearance on the Associated Press gators working on the case four days later, after the ans on the pier on July 1,
witness stand, which the SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — found a “strike mark” on the bullet was found to be par- 2015. The shooting sparked
defense hadn’t publicly The bullet that killed a San pier’s concrete surface four tially flattened, indicating a political furor during last
made known in advance, Francisco woman whose days after the shooting of it had ricocheted, he said. year’s presidential race,
served as a dramatic coun- death touched off national Kate Steinle by a Mexican The testimony was signifi- with then-candidate Don-
terpoint to several days debate about illegal immi- national who had been de- cant because lawyers for ald Trump citing the killing
of emotionally wrenching gration ricocheted off the ported five times. defendant Jose Ines Gar- as a reason to toughen U.S.
testimony by several ser- ground about 100 yards Investigators had over- cia Zarate argue the rico- immigration policies. San
vice members who were away before hitting her in looked the mark on the chet shows the shooting Francisco is a sanctuary
seriously wounded during the back, a retired police night the 32-year-old Stein- was accidental. Prosecu- city, with local law enforce-
a massive search effort. He investigator testified Mon- le was killed, said Evans, tors have charged Garcia ment officials barred from
described the brutal con- day. who later retired from the Zarate with murder, alleg- cooperating with federal
ditions he faced, includ- Former Officer John Evans department. Authorities re- ing he meant to point and immigration authorities.q