United States v. Bean

*204Opinion of the Court

Kilday, Judge:

An altercation in the messline of a unit stationed at Darmstadt, Germany, resulted in a stabbing. Multiple penetrating chest wounds inflicted by a knife, wielded by the accused, caused the victim’s death. Accused was, consequently, brought to trial before a general court-martial on a charge of unpremeditated murder, in violation of Article 118, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 918. He pleaded not guilty but, although the court acquitted him of the offense charged, it convicted him of the included lesser crime of voluntary manslaughter, contrary to…