US soldier on trial in death of Panama college student

 A  US soldier who was in Panama to train local police,   will go on trial in Fort Bragg  in March next year, accused of the murder of a 25-year Los Santos college student  15 months ago   

Master Sgt. Omar Antonio Velez-Pagan was  charged in February  with  unpremeditated murder, aggravated assault, adultery, obstruction of justice and possession of steroids, according to Fort Bragg officials.

Lawyers for Velez-Pagan argued the death of 25-year-old Vanessa Rodriguez was an accident.

Prosecutors,  contended her death was a crime of passion.

According to testimony at the  preliminary hearing, Rodriguez died after being run over by Velez-Pagan’s truck on a Panama  roadside.

Velez-Pagan’s Army lawyers said their client meant no harm to Rodriguez. They said the soldier was trying to end an extramarital affair with the college student when she attacked him and forced his truck off the road.

He defended himself, then accidentally backed his truck over her as he tried to exit the vehicle to pursue her on foot, they said.

But investigators argue Velez-Pagan was using steroids and unable to control his emotions, leading to a violent outburst with his career and livelihood on the line.

Capt. Richard Connaroe, the prosecutor, said Velez-Pagan placed Rodriguez behind the wheels of his truck then repeatedly ran her over.

“Master Sgt. Velez intentionally killed Vanessa Rodriguez,” Connaroe said at the hearing. “He murdered her. This was not an accident.”

According to testimony, the relationship between Velez-Pagan and Rodriguez was common knowledge among U.S. soldiers working in Panama.

Velez-Pagan was in Panama  with the Fort Bragg-based U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization, training Panamanian police.

Rodriguez was last seen with Velez-Pagan the night of her death.

The next day, a Panamanian officer who was training with Velez-Pagan found the body, partially naked, crushed and marred with tire tracks, near a shooting range.

When the body was discovered, Velez-Pagan admitted to killing Rodriguez and trying to hide her body.

Afterward, Velez-Pagan was sent back to Fort Bragg to be tried within the U.S. military’s justice system.