RAMSTEIN, Germany — Testimony in the rape court-martial of a 13-year Air Force veteran got under way Friday as the alleged victim took the stand and was in tears at times as she testified for several hours.
Air Force Staff Sgt. John Jackson Jr. is charged with two counts of assault and battery and rape of his 23-year-old German ex-girlfriend. Prosecutors contend that Jackson assaulted her in December 2006 and January 2007 and raped her in July 2007.
Jackson, who is now based in Izmir, Turkey, was based in Kaiserslautern at the time. He faces life in military confinement if he is convicted on all of the charges. Jackson pleaded not guilty to all charges before the testimony.
Jackson is married to a British citizen, prosecuting attorney Capt. Gloria Downey said in court.
The alleged assaults happened before Jackson deployed to Iraq and the alleged rape occurred after he returned, Downey said.
The defense argued that the alleged victim, who admitted to having an affair while Jackson was in Iraq, was using the rape charge as a smoke screen in her current relationship.
"(The victim) has changed regret into a four-letter word — ‘rape,’ " defense attorney Capt. Shane McCammon told the judge, Col. William Orr.
"This is a case of power and control," prosecuting attorney, Capt. Lyndie Freeman said. "The accused time and again asserted his power."
