Hearing begins for airman accused of killing Robins Air Force Base couple

<p>A military court hearing began Monday for an Air Force enlisted man accused of killing a couple at their Robins Air Force Base home.</p><p>Senior Airman Andrew Paul Witt, an avionics technician in the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins, could receive the death penalty if convicted of murder in the July 5 stabbing deaths of Senior Airman Andrew Schliepsiek and his wife, Jamie, natives of Peoria, Ill.</p><p>The Article 32 hearing, similar to a civilian grand jury proceeding, was to continue Tuesday, with prosecutors expected to introduce evidence from 911 operators and a pathologist.</p><p>The hearing was transfered to the Bibb County Courthouse from the base near Warner Robins to accomodate the legal teams and spectators, according to Robins spokesman Tim Kurtz.</p><p>Witt, 22, also accused of attempted murder in the wounding of Senior Airman Jason King. Schliepsiek and King, who lived in Bonaire, were assigned to the 5th Combat Communications Group at Robins.</p><p>Witt entered the Air Force three years ago and first came to Robins in August 2002. He has been held at the Houston County Jail.</p><p>The killings are the first on the base in its more than 60-year history, although a child was bludgeoned to death in an off-base housing area in 1976.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x286581c)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/11/156825