The Latest: Soldiers recall firefight in search for Bergdahl

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – The Latest on the military case against Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl (all times local):

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3:45 p.m.

A search mission that left two soldiers wounded while trying to find an Army specialist missing in Afghanistan was hastily organized, according to testimony.

A pretrial hearing in the case of Army soldier Bowe Bergdahl included testimony Monday about the soldiers who were hurt during a firefight while looking for Bergdahl after he walked away from his post in 2009.

Bergdahl is facing charges of desertion and misbehaviour before the enemy, his trial now set for spring of 2017.

Jonathan Morita, an Army specialist in 2009, was on the search mission. An unexploded rocket-propelled grenade slammed into his rifle and injured his hand. He said Monday that the injury was comparable to having his hand smashed by a hammer.

Another soldier in the search suffered a traumatic brain injury after he was shot in the head.

Further oral arguments on the prosecutors’ motion are planned Tuesday. Bergdahl’s attorney Eugene Fidell said the defence would wait until then to argue whether the soldiers’ injuries belong in the case.

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11:20 a.m.

A military judge is delaying the trial of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on charges of desertion and misbehaviour before the enemy.

Army Col. Jeffery Nance decided to push the trial back to May 2017 during a pretrial hearing Monday at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The trial had been scheduled for February.

Prosecutors filed a motion in October requesting a trial delay. They cited the pace at which they’re able to get approval to give the defence classified evidence as a main reason for the delay.

The judge also planned to hear testimony Monday about soldiers the prosecution says were injured while looking for Bergdahl. Nance is considering a motion on whether to allow such evidence at trial.

Bergdahl, who’s from Hailey, Idaho, walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held captive by the Taliban and its allies for five years. He was freed in 2014 and faces up to life in prison if convicted of both charges.

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6 a.m.

A military judge will consider delaying the trial of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on charges of desertion and misbehaviour before the enemy.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled Monday at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Prosecutors filed a motion in October asking to delay the trial by several months until May 2017. They cite the pace at which they’re able to get approval to give the defence classified evidence.

Defence lawyers previously argued the case should be taken off the calendar because of the evidence issue, but they haven’t said whether they agree with the prosecution’s latest request.

Bergdahl, who’s from Hailey, Idaho, walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held captive by the Taliban and its allies for five years. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of both charges.