Defense rests in boot camp death trial

PANAMA CITY, Fla., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Closing arguments are scheduled Thursday in the trial of seven former Florida boot camp drill instructors and a nurse charged in the death of a 14-year-old boy.

Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Charles Helms Jr., Henry McFadden Jr., Joseph Walsh II and Kristin Schmidt are charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child in the death of Martin Lee Anderson. They face up to 30 years in prison if convicted as charged.

The youth died Jan. 6, 2006, after collapsing during his initiation into the discipline-oriented camp.

Before the defense rested Wednesday, Panama City Medical Examiner Charles Siebert Jr, who conducted the initial autopsy on Anderson,. told the court the guards’ actions in using ammonia capsules and even striking the teenager kept him alive longer, instead of causing his death, the Panama City News Herald reported.

Siebert said a sickle cell trait-induced coma overtook Anderson and the blows to his arms and legs, along with the ammonia fumes activated adrenaline in his system revived him.

Tampa Medical Examiner Vernard Adams, who did a second autopsy, testified last week that the blows, ammonia fumes and hands covering Anderson’s mouth caused his death through suffocation.