10:54 AM CDT on Monday, May 23, 2005

Associated Press

FORT HOOD -- The court-martial of a U.S. soldier accused of killing an Iraqi man is scheduled to begin at Fort Hood on Monday.

Staff Sergeant Shane Werst of El Toro, California, is accused of shooting the man after a series of house raids. Werst faces up to life in prison if convicted of murder and obstruction of justice.

Authorities say another soldier reported the killing and said that Werst planted a handgun on the dead man. The alleged crime happened a day after an officer in Werst's unit died in a mortar attack.

Before the trial starts, the judge has to decide whether to allow testimony about one of Werst's superiors allegedly giving an illegal order to hunt down a list of suspected insurgents and kill them. Prosecutors say the issue is part of their case.