Soldier deployed to West Africa found dead at Fort Hood; tests negative for Ebola - CDC chief: Why I have hope about 2015 Ebola fight

Hazmat teams and several ambulances responded Tuesday after a soldier’s body was found in front of a home at Fort Hood in Texas.

The soldier, who was not identified, had just returned from deployment in West Africa, KWTX.com reported.

According to medical officials, the soldier was tested for Ebola and initial results came back as negative. 

The soldier had returned from Liberia with a larger group earlier this month and was in the 21-day controlled monitoring at Fort Hood, a senior defense official said. He was given permission for an emergency leave due to a family issue and was told to self-monitor twice a day, the official said.

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Soldier deployed to West Africa found dead at Fort Hood; tests negative for Ebola - CDC chief: Why I have hope about 2015 Ebola fight

Buffalo Soldier co-writer dies in Miami

Tuesday, January 06, 2015 | 6:56 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Noel ‘King Sporty’ Williams, who co-wrote the song Buffalo Soldier with Bob Marley, died Monday in Miami at age 71.

Abdul Muhsin, his friend of 37 years, told the OBSERVER ONLINE that Sporty died at the University of Miami Hospital at 8:15 pm.

No cause of death has been given.

Born in Portland, Sporty was a pioneer of the Miami reggae scene, having lived in South Florida since the early 1960s.

Sporty first recorded Buffalo Soldier in the late 1970s for his Konduko label. Marley’s version became popular after his death in 1981.

Sporty started his career in the 1960s as a deejay at Studio One, recording a number of hit songs for producer Clement Dodd’s label.

His best known song was the self-produced ballad, Thinking of You, which was originally done by the Blues Busters.

Sporty was married for many years to American soul singer Betty Wright. He is survived by her and several children.

Howard Campbell

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Buffalo Soldier co-writer dies in Miami

US soldier missing at murder hearing

21 October 2014 Last updated at 18:15 Activists have called for the surrender of the US suspect A US Marine has failed to appear in a Philippines court after being accused of murdering a transgender Filipino.

The lawyer for Pte First Class Joseph Pemberton said his presence at the preliminary hearing was not required. The case will now resume next week.

He has been named as the suspect in the death of Jeffrey Laude, found dead in a hotel bathroom on 12 October.

The victim’s family expressed concern the suspect will evade justice and called on the US to take action.

“We hope the Americans will bring him out. They’re coddling a worthless man,” the victim’s mother, Julita Laude, told reporters.

Police in the northern port city of Olongapo have said Pte Pemberton was the last person seen with Laude – a transgender woman also known as Jennifer – before she was found strangled.

Mourners paid tribute to victim Jeffrey Laude, found dead in a hotel bathroom on 12 October Julita Laude has called on the US to produce the suspect in her child’s death

After Tuesday’s hearing, Rowena Garcia Flores, Pte Pemberton’s lawyer, told Filipino officials her client was still studying the complaint against him and he was not required to appear at the hearing.

But Fe de los Santos, chief prosecutor in the case, argued the soldier was ordered to attend and has demanded he appear at the next hearing on 27 October.

“The attendance of the Marine will serve as a very good assessment of the willingness of the US government to comply with the provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement,” he said.

There was a small anti-US protest following the death and the case has already prompted remarks at the highest levels of both governments.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino said on Monday the crime should not sour ties with the US.

And Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington seeks no “special privilege” for the suspect but only protection of his rights.

The soldier was detained aboard the carrier USS Peleliu off the Filipino coast. The US can retain custody of soldiers wanted for crimes in the Philippines under the Visiting Forces Agreement.

Several US warships were ordered to remain in the Philippines while the investigation continued.

The American navy vessels and around 3,000 marines had just completed a military exercise with the Philippines.

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US soldier missing at murder hearing

Soldier accused of killing man with helmet gets new date

Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

A soldier who allegedly used his helmet to kill a man almost two years ago will return to the St Catherine Circuit Court on September 23.

Charged with murder is Corporal Kevin Gardener, 32, of the Jamaica Defence Force. He is charged with the death of Kevin O’Connor, 24, from Bog Walk, St Catherine.

The matter came up in the St Catherine Circuit Court before Justice Lennox Campbell.

Attorneys-at-law Lancelot Clarke Jr and Vincent Wellesley, who are representing Gardener, said the defence is awaiting documents

“For some time, we have been aware of statements collected from soldiers by Colonel Patrick Cole, and we need it for our defence of the case, ” Wellesley said.

Allegations are that on September 11, 2012, Gardener was part of a police-military patrol. On reaching the bus park in Spanish Town, they observed an angry mob raining blows on O’Connor after he allegedly refused to pay his bus fare.

He was taken to the police post on the compound, during which he was reportedly hit by Gardener with a helmet, and later died from injuries received.

The Independent Commission of Investigations conducted a probe, which resulted in Gardener being charged with murder.

He has made numerous court appearances and has maintained his innocence throughout.

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Soldier accused of killing man with helmet gets new date

Ecuadorean soldier killed on border

9 August 2013 Last updated at 00:02 One army officer from Ecuador has died and a soldier has been injured in clashes with an armed group near the Colombian border.

Five Colombian rebels also died in the fighting.

Local media said it was likely that the rebels mistook the Ecuadorean soldiers for a Colombian army patrol and attacked them.

The gunmen are believed to be from Colombia’s largest guerrilla movement, the Farc.

“We are outraged”, said Ecuador’s Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patino. “The Colombian government must reinforce the border to prevent illegal armed groups from entering our country.”

The minister also warned Colombian rebels that Ecuador would be relentless in the defence of its territory.

For his part, the head of Ecuador’s armed forces, General Leonardo Barreiro, said the soldiers had been on patrol in the region of Sucumbios when they surrounded the rebels.

“They asked them to surrender on the banks of the San Miguel river, but they responded with fire,” he told reporters.

General Barreiro said another group of rebels on the Colombian side of the river attacked the Ecuadorean troops with rifle-launched grenades and sharpshooters.

Several armed groups, including leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries and criminal gangs, operate along the Colombian border with Ecuador.

In 2008, Colombian security forces crossed into the same region of Ecuador and killed a top FARC commander, Raul Reyes, in one of several jungle camps that the rebels operated just across the border.

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Ecuadorean soldier killed on border