Hearing adjourned into killings of 3 US Special Forces instructors

AMMAN — A military court on Wednesday began the first public hearing into the shooting death of three US Special Forces instructors outside the King Faisal Airbase in Jafer, Maan, in November 2016. 

The court, headed by military Judge Col. Mohammad Afif, adjourned the session until next Sunday to allow the defendant, a Jordanian soldier, to appoint a defence lawyer, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

He is charged with premeditated murder.

The defendant, arrested in late 2016, is accused of shooting and killing the three US Special Forces instructors as they drove towards the gate of the airbase. 

The three US service members, killed on November 4, 2016, were from the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

They were Staff Sgt. Matthew C. Lewellen, 27, Staff Sgt. Kevin J. McEnroe, 30, and Staff Sgt. James F. Moriarty, 27.

At the time, US Embassy Spokesperson Eric Barbee said in a statement to The Jordan Times that “contrary to press reports, there has been absolutely no credible evidence to suggest that US personnel acted contrary to orders or established procedures when accessing the base”.

“We appreciate the assistance of the government of Jordan as the investigation continues,” Barbee said.