Charges preferred in Santos death

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Criminal charges were preferred against Senior Airman Phillip Howard for the June 2007 murder of Airman 1st Class Brian Santos.

Airman Howard, of the 355th EMS, was charged with the murder of Airman Santos. The accused will be arraigned Monday, Aug. 31

Court-martial proceedings are expected to begin in early November. A military judge presides over a court-martial. The accused has the option of having the case decided by the judge alone or by a jury (called "court members" in the military justice system). An enlisted accused who chooses to have the case decided by a jury has the option of having a jury consisting of either all officers or officers and enlisted members.

The charges are merely accusations. Airman Howard is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.