Military panel acquits Lakenheath airman of rape charge

(EXCERPT) , By Ron Jensen, Stars and Stripes European edition, Friday,
March 12, 2004

RAF LAKENHEATH, England — A military panel on Thursday acquitted a
senior airman accused of rape after a two-day trial of contradictory
testimony.

The panel of three officers and five enlisted military members cleared
Senior Airman Ralph Heard Jr. of a single charge of rape resulting
from an incident on the evening of Sept. 9, 2003.

The defendant’s mother, Beulah Heard, who had flown in from Opelika,
Ala., to support her son, silently exalted when the panel president
read the verdict after about four hours of deliberation.

“I’m extremely, extremely happy,” she said moments later. “I feel a
sense of liberation.”

During the deliberation, Beulah Heard said she put her trust in the
Lord and tried not to think about the s...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com