SEOUL — As expected, the U.S. military Monday handed over to South Korean authorities a soldier who will stand trial on attempted-murder charges stemming from a May stabbing incident.

According to the Seoul Prosecutor’s Office, Pfc. John C. Humphreys, 21, was taken into South Korean custody shortly after 10 a.m. He became just the second soldier held in pretrial confinement under 2001 changes to the U.S.-South Korean Status of Forces Agreement.

Under South Korean law, prosecutors have 24 hours to indict Humphreys. Lee Hong-hoon of the prosecutor’s office said one charge of attempted murder would be filed against Humphreys either late Monday or early Tuesday.

Humphreys, of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, is accused of stabbing a 27-year-old South Korean man in the May 15 incident. After the stabbing, 8th Army officials expressed regret for the incident and promised full cooperation with any investigation.

Under the SOFA changes, South Korean officials can ask for pretrial confinement of servicemembers charged with any of a dozen crimes designated as serious, including attempted murder.

After the incident, police officials said four other U.S. soldiers and a South Korean soldier assigned to a U.S. Army unit also were under investigation.

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