An Army captain from Evergreen accused of a war crime will likely learn his fate in the next week or so. Investigators have charged Capt. Carl Bjork with ordering Iraqi officers to kill two Iraqi civilians.
The U.S. military has re commended one count of reckless endangerment and two counts of premeditated murder against Bjork.
Bjork has claimed he is innocent.
Josh Boyles and Jared Hertig each served eight years in the Marines and are close friends of Bjork.
“Carl is probably one of the best people I know,” Hertig said. “He’s just a good kid, a good guy. Everybody loves Carl.”
“It’s unfounded,” Boyles said. “Carl loved what he does. He loves kids, he loves people. He didn’t murder people. He didn’t tell people to murder people.”
The evidence against Bjork is minimal, his lawyer said.
“Right now, the only evidence I have seen that would lead any person to any imprint of guilt are the statements of four detainees,” said the attorney, Victor Kelley.
Bjork has been passed over for promotion since the December 2006 incident that spawned the charges.
“I know a lot of lesser people around that would probably just run away. But Carl is not that person,” Hertig said.
On Nov. 3, military leaders decided to “proffer” the charges against Bjork. They have 120 days to “refer” them, so the case can go to court-martial.
Bjork could face up to life in prison if court-martialed and found guilty.
