BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Col. Ty Neuman, 2nd Bomb Wing commander, directed a preliminary hearing in the case of Airman 1st Class Isaiah Edwards, who has been charged with the murder of Airman 1st Class Bradley Hale. The preliminary hearing occurred on May 11, 2018. Neuman will review the preliminary hearing officer’s report from the hearing and determine the next step in the trial process. Edwards is presumed innocent of the accusations unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at a court-martial.
Hale’s death occurred March 26, 2018 during a deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Both Hale and Edwards were assigned to the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as Electronic Warfare Journeymen. Edwards is currently in custody at Barksdale Air Force Base.
Preliminary hearings are also called Article 32 hearings because they are referenced in Article 32 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Article 32 hearings are used to determine if probable cause exists to proceed to trial.
Timelines for courts-martial vary based on availability of all parties and how the case progresses.
Public Affairs will send additional releases and advisories as the case progresses as allowed by military regulations.