Cannon Airman charged
By , 27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
/ Published March 24, 2006
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Criminal charges were preferred against Airman First Class Edward M. Novak for the October 2004 death of his wife, Kimberly S. Novak, in their home on Cannon Air Force Base.
Airman Novak, 27th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was charged with murder and child abuse. The next stage of the military justice process is a pretrial investigation under
Article 32 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
An Article 32 investigation is a hearing to consider the appropriate disposition of charges brought against a military member. It is similar to both a preliminary hearing and a grand jury proceeding, where a hearing is held to determine whether there is sufficient cause to believe a crime was committed and the person accused of the crime committed it. Unlike a grand jury proceeding, the accused has the right to be present during an Article 32 investigation, to be represented by counsel at the hearing, to question and call witnesses, to present evidence and to testify if desired.
The charges are merely accusations. Airman Novak is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.