Pilot's lawyer says Air Force lied about dropping charges

June 20, 2003

Pilot's lawyer says Air Force lied about dropping charges
DOUG SIMPSON
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS - A lawyer for a fighter pilot charged in the accidental bombing deaths of four Canadian soldiers said Friday the Air Force is secretly retaining manslaughter and assault charges against his client after claiming to have dropped them.

The Air Force said Thursday that a general recommended that Majs. Harry Schmidt and William Umbach not face courts-martial, but also recommended that Schmidt face two criminal counts of dereliction of duty in a nonjudicial hearing.