<

Marine Charged in Parachute Sabotage

Wednesday, April 30, 2003
(5:04 PM)
The Associated Press

“They've been screwing with me, and they've been screwing with you.”

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- AP
A 21-year-old Marine has been charged with 13 counts of attempted murder for allegedly sabotaging parachutes before a jump last fall that left three fellow Marines wounded, the military said Wednesday.

The Marines Corps formally referred Lance Cp. Antoine Boykins to a general court-martial on charges that also include 13 counts of reckless endangerment and one conspiracy to commit premeditated murder.

Boykins will remain in confinement at the base, said Sgt. J.J. Connolly Jr., a spokesman for Camp Lejeune.

Three Marines were injured last September when their parachutes failed to open when they jumped from about 1,250 feet; their reserve chutes deployed safely. Other jumps were canceled and investigators later found that 13 of the 22 parachutes had been tampered with.

Last month, a military prosecutor said Boykins and another Marine had cut parachute suspension lines because they had been disciplined and were angry with their platoon commander.
(More: Netscape Network News)
2003 © The Associated Press.

Dan